SCOTS and World Cup winners Alan McManus and John Higgins left Preston's Guild Hall last night with conflicting emotions. McManus was delighted by his 9-5 victory over fellow Scot Billy Snaddon, but Higgins, the world number two, could make his exit tonight.

McManus turned a 5-3 first session advantage into a comfortable victory, although Snaddon knocked in an excellent 97 to trail 7-5 and then watched in agony as he potted the final pink in frame 13, only for the cue ball to drop into another pocket.

McManus accepted the lifeline, potted pink and then cleared up to pink again in frame 14, after trailing 54-43, to send him through to the quarter finals.

Higgins looked unhappy during a turbo charged first session against Tony Drago. Higgins lost all six opening frames, including the fourth to a break of 103. It was vintage Drago, displaying form rarely seen in the last couple of seasons, but his old faults returned in the closing two frames and some ill advised shots cost him an even bigger lead.

Higgins was lucky to survive in frame eight, having carelessly snookered himself on the final red and Drago looked favourite to take a 7-1 lead, but missed the pink, and like McManus, Higgins seized his chance.

. Kildare's Joe Canny won a place in the last 16 of the World Amateur Championship in New Zealand yesterday when he beat the local favourite Daniell Haenga 4-2 in his final group match.

Haenga, New Zealand's number one amateur for the past three years, had the support of a packed arena and went in to the mid session break at 2-2 but Canny wrapped up the match, and a place in the quarter finals, by taking the next two frames.

Canny, who was a professional for two years before returning to amateur competition, won seven of his eight group matches and now has two rest days before the knock out phase begins. The drawl for the quarter finals will be made today.