McCulloch crashes out of UK Championship
Monday, 5 December 2005 23:11World number 16 Ian McCulloch was a shock casualty on the opening day of the Travis Perkins UK Championship in York, losing 9-7 to Scotland's Jamie Burnett.
McCulloch, who reached the semi-finals of this year's World Championship, was only playing in the first round of the tournament because Shaun Murphy, ranked number 21, received an automatic last-32 place by virtue of winning the world title.
It meant McCulloch had to make way for him and he lost his grip against Burnett having led 6-3, the 30-year-old Glaswegian rounding off his victory with an impressive 71 break that followed earlier efforts of 67, 68 and 59.
Hong Kong's Marco Fu won 9-6 against Michael Judge and will face another Irishman, Ken Doherty, in round two, while Northern Ireland's Gerard Greene meets John Higgins after his scheduled opponent, Quinten Hann, maintained his record of failing to appear for any match this season.
The Australian is awaiting an investigation in the new year into match-fixing allegations.
Ali Carter and Dominic Dale underlined their liking for the second most prestigious ranking competition with convincing successes.
Carter, a quarter-finalist in 2004, trounced Jamie Cope 9-3 and goes forward to face Alan McManus in round two.
Dale, who beat Chinese rising star Ding Junhui in the first round last year, gained another notable scalp with a 9-3 triumph against world number 18 Barry Pinches.
In matches to will be concluded tomorrow, Stuart Bingham's fine recent form continued when he took control of his first-round match against Robert Milkins.
