McManus comes up against Fu on Saturday
RETURN OF THE MASKED MAN
By PA Sport Staff
Snooker's masked man Marco Fu will be looking to mug Alan McManus when the
Crucible's biggest giant killer so far returns to Embassy World Championship
duty in Sheffield on Saturday afternoon.
Fu sent shockwaves throughout the Sheffield venue when he sent 'Rocket' Ronnie
O'Sullivan spinning out of the tournament on Tuesday.
Now the Asian star is looking to do the same to Scotsman McManus though
snooker is not the only subject occupying his thoughts at the moment.
Fu arrived in Britain three weeks ago, flying in from the Far East wearing a
face mask as a precaution against the SARS virus.
He will don the mask once more when he returns home following his engagement
in the Premier League finals at Sunderland next month.
"It's better to take precautions," said the 27-year-old from Happy Valley.
"I don't know anyone personally who has died. But I will be wearing my mask
again once I fly home.
"The only problem is when people see you wearing one they think you are
infected.
"It seems to have got a lot worse since I left Hong Kong.
"I'm not too worried but I wouldn't want to be put in quarantine for 10 days
when I come back to Britain."
McManus certainly will not be taking Fu lightly as he attempts to reach the
quarter-finals for the first time in a decade.
"I'm a great believer in playing the balls rather than the opponents," he
said.
"I wouldn't have expected to meet Marco - but it's no great surprise.
"People who are not out there playing think some matches are a foregone
conclusion. But it doesn't work out like that.
"They are all great players and nothing is certain," added McManus, hoping
to avoid an extra session against Fu having gone seven hours with Nigel Bond in
the opening round.
Peter Ebdon should not take too long to progress to the quarter-finals - or
then again he just might.
The defending champion will not be receiving a good luck card from Tony Drago
once he puts the finishing touches to an 11-5 overnight lead.
Drago believed Ebdon was guilty of blatant time wasting and gamesmanship
during Friday's penultimate session when he conceded seven of the eight
available frames.
"If there were another six players like him we would all be playing for £100
first prizes by now," said the 37-year-old Maltese star.
"What was happening out there was not on. But I don't want to say anything
else until after my match."
The flashpoint came after a bizarre 15th frame when Drago conceded with the
scoreline 31-12 in Ebdon's favour even though there were 83 points available.
Ebdon immediately disappeared backstage for a toilet break. His absence was
timed at three-and-a-half minutes - the time it once took Drago to win a frame.
When the world number three re-entered, Drago sarcastically applauded Ebdon
back to his chair and gave his opponent a frosty stare.
They did shake hands after Ebdon's 105 break rounded off the feuding - but
only the faintest of touches.
Ebdon was hot under the collar due to the uncomfortably high temperatures
inside the arena. He was also said to be unhappy with the table conditions.
Saturday's press conference should be worth listening to.
Ebdon is not the only player looking to join seven times world champion
Stephen Hendry in the quarter-finals.
John Higgins and Jimmy White also have designs on the last eight on Saturday.
World number four Higgins is well on course to reach the quarters for an
eighth successive season at the expense of Sean Storey from Grimsby.
White has more work to do against Stephen Lee, the world number seven from
Trowbridge.
Higgins leads Storey 10-6 and but for a superb final frame of the evening
could be 11-5 in front.
The 27-year-old Scot potted nine reds and blacks to reach 72 and a possible
147 break before missing the 10th red.
Storey made maximum use of his chance and cleared up with 73 to win on the
black.
He needs a few more quality clearances of the same ilk to prevent Higgins
reaching his target of 13 frames.
White finishes off his second round match against Lee this evening.
He's made an encouraging start and despite two centuries from former LG Cup
and Scottish Open champion Lee, White leads 5-3.
Hendry knocked out Glaswegian Drew Henry 13-10, coming from 10-9 when another
surprise was on the cards.
Seven times champion Hendry now plays Mark Williams or Quinten Hann for a
place in the semi-finals.
"I said before the tournament the ultimate motivation for winning the world
championship would be to regain the world number one spot," said Hendry.
"Winning this match means I'm definitely in the top four again for next
season which is fantastic.
"Now, I've got the incentive to go and win and be number one.
"Obviously, Mr Williams will have something to say about that but it will be
nice to relax for a few days and watch him sweat.
"When you get to the quarter-final stage that's when the tournament starts.
And if you don't play good snooker you're going to be found out."
Click here to send us your sporting feedback
