Hendry - bidding for number one spot (Getty Images)
RACE IS ON FOR NUMBER ONE SPOT
Mark Williams and Stephen Hendry could be involved in the closest ever race to
finish the season as snooker's top ranked professional.
Ronnie O'Sullivan is destined to lose his world number one spot after his
shock early exit from the Embassy World Championship at the hands of Hong Kong's
Marco Fu.
But Hendry, already a third the way through his second round game with Drew
Henry, and Williams remain in contention for the title and pole position in the
rankings.
Provisional number one Williams brought the first round to a close last night
with a 10-2 victory over Lancastrian Stuart Pettman.
If Hendry turns his 5-3 lead over countryman Henry into a winning scoreline
and Williams defeats Quinten Hann in his next match, the pair will clash in the
quarter-finals.
"For me and Hendry that could be our world championship final," said
Williams, who required just 31 minutes to end Pettman's Crucible debut.
Hendry would have to beat Williams and then go on to capture his eighth world
title on May 5 to also head the rankings once more.
Both players would then end the season with 48,700 points - the first time
that would have happened since the rankings were introduced over a quarter of a
century ago.
However, unlike soccer's Premiership, there would be no play-off.
Instead, the final rungs on the ladder would be decided by points from the one
year list. And Hendry would then leapfrog his stablemate.
"If that happens I will spend my summer hitting my head against the wall,"
said Williams, who has a fierce but friendly rivalry with the 34-year-old Scot.
However, there is no love lost between the Welshman and O'Sullivan, who cannot
now renew their rivalry in the semi-finals.
The row between the pair blew up after the publication of O'Sullivan's
autobiography, 'Ronnie'.
The Rocket claimed Williams was not liked by the other professionals and said
the man from Cwm was "arrogant".
"In some ways if he talks rubbish for so long and gets beaten, he makes
himself look stupid again," was Williams' response last night.
"I am still in the tournament, he's got beaten and I've not said a word. It's
quite funny really.
"Besides, I don't play the person I play the balls. No-one can make me try
harder than I already am doing."
However, there's a bit of history between Williams and Hann dating back to
their first round meeting in 1998.
Hann lost 10-9 on the black after being 9-4 down only for Williams to
criticise the Australian's rowdy supporters.
"There's a bit of friction between us but I don't worry about that stuff any
more," said Williams.
Hendry will become the first player to reach the quarter-finals by adding
eight of the today's remaining 17 frames against Glaswegian Henry.
Hendry has yet to hit top gear in the tournament though he does have a new
record to his name.
A break of 115 in frame six was his 100th century break at the Crucible.
But it was very patchy for the rest of the opening session by the seven times
champion.
Peter Ebdon was an impressive 10-3 winner over Gerard Greene in his first
round match last Saturday.
But the defending champion found it tougher going last night against Tony
Drago.
The Maltese star was back in action less than 24 hours after his win over Joe
Swail while Ebdon had enjoyed four days of practice following his triumph over
Greene.
And it was Ebdon who looked to be suffering from ring rustiness during a less
than inspiring opening session.
Drago compiled the best break of the evening - 92 in frame two - while Ebdon's
best shot was just 45 in the fifth.
However, the father of four from Wellingborough came from 2-0 and 3-1 down to
share the session at 4-4. They play eight more frames this afternoon before
finishing off tomorrow morning.
World number 82 Sean Storey, the lowest ranked player in Sheffield, begins his
second round match against John Higgins, the world number four, this morning.
If Higgins required any extra motivation in his bid to regain the world title
it came last night as his beloved Celtic reached the UEFA Cup final.
Two more players beginning their last 16 match today are six times Crucible
runner-up Jimmy White and Stephen Lee, the world number seven from Wiltshire.
And in the absence of world number one Ronnie O'Sullivan, White will carry the
weight of public expectancy.
The Whirlwind captured seven frames without reply to beat Thailand's James
Wattana 10-6 on Wednesday. But it will not be so one-sided against the former LG
Cup and Scottish Open champion.
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