SNOOKER: Ronnie O'Sullivan crashed out of the British Grand Prix after being crushed 5-1 by Australian Neil Robertson at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre yesterday.
The world number three, who earlier in the week declared he wanted to be like gunslinger Billy the Kid, admitted: "He was on fire. He blew me away. You have to give the geezer credit. He didn't miss a ball.
"Sometimes you can come up against someone like that and he deserved his win.You can't just turn up with your B game and think you're going win, you can't.
Robertson, who had lost all five of his previous ranking event quarter-finals, will now play either Scot Alan McManus or Preston's Ian McCulloch.
ATHLETICS: Olympic 1,500 metres silver medallist Bernard Lagat said yesterday he would not appeal against a German court ruling rejecting his claims for damages over a failed drugs test.
The Kenyan-born American had sought compensation from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) after his "A" sample tested positive for the blood-booster erythropoietin (EPO) in August 2003. He was later cleared after the "B" sample was negative.
"After weighing up all the factors involved, I have decided not to pursue my case any further against the IAAF and Wada," said Lagat, who became an American citizen last year.
BOXING: Brothers down to meet in finals has not been an unusual occurence in Irish amateur boxing circles. In the past, walkovers in such situations were not uncommon. But at the National Stadium last night two Dublin brothers from the Westside Club qualified for a unique final scheduled for tonight the in the All-Ireland Under-21 championships, writes Pat Roche.
The Upton brothers, James and Sonny operate in the 57 kilos class. A third brother, Paul, competing at 60 kilos, also qualified for tonight's finals with a shock win over John Joe Joyce of St Michael's, Athy. It remains to be seen whether James and Sonny Upton will oppose each other this evening.
CRICKET: South Africa routed Pakistan for just 89 to complete a stunning fightback and book their place in the ICC Champions Trophy semi-finals in India.
Both sides entered their final group match in Mohali knowing victory would secure their last-four place, and Pakistan seemed destined to qualify after reducing South Africa to 42 for five.
But determined half-centuries from Mark Boucher and Justin Kemp helped South Africa reach a competitive 213 for eight, and their formidable pace attack then dismissed Pakistan cheaply to secure victory by 124 runs, and progress to a semi-final in Jaipur next week.
GAELIC FOOTBALL: Galway Football Board chairman Pat Egan is confident Peter Ford and his new selectors will be ratified in the next week or so.
The new management team were expected to be given the green light by football board delegates on Wednesday night, but the matter was deferred.
Egan, who this week vehemently denied that an approach had been made to Mick O'Dwyer, said:"I am hopeful the whole matter will be sorted out in the next week to 10 days."
Eoin O'Donnellan, who guided Salthill/Knocknacarra to their first All-Ireland club success earlier this year, has been lined up as one of the new selectors, as well as Pete Warren, a selector when Galway won the All-Ireland in 1998 and 2001.
