SNOOKER: World champion Mark Williams had table trouble before booking his place in the quarter-finals of the British Open in Brighton last night.
Williams described the conditions as "horrid" after beating Dubliner Fergal O'Brien 5-2.
The Welshman even wanted to change the balls at the interval after both players experienced a series of bad contacts.
"Every shot seemed to be a kick," Williams said. "The table was horrid to play on. It was a complete nightmare and I almost lost patience with myself because the table was getting to me.
"Fergal wasn't keen to change the balls so we just carried on. I hope they take the table away and burn it."
Despite his problems with the conditions, Williams made breaks of 63, 61 and 70 to clinch his place in the last eight.
CRICKET: Brian Lara just missed out on a double-century as he became the West Indies' all-time leading Test run scorer yesterday in the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.
Lara's 191 out of a total of 481, however, could not stop Zimbabwe fighting their way back into the game as they recovered from 31 for three to close the second day on 173 without further loss.
Lara, who recorded a 22nd Test century, was at the crease for four and a half hours and faced 203 balls, hitting 23 fours and four sixes.
The left-hander went into the match with 8,434 runs, 106 behind Viv Richards' total of 8,540.
Lara was 77 not out overnight, and passed Richards in the 11th over of the day with a cover drive for four off Price.
Lara leapfrogged England's Alec Stewart and Richards to go from ninth to seventh on the list of all-time run scorers.
TENNIS: Andre Agassi scored a dramatic 2-6 6-3 6-4 victory over Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero at the ATP Masters Cup in Houston yesterday, clinching the year-end number one ranking for American compatriot Andy Roddick.
"Andy had number one in his hands the whole week," said Agassi who only once in his long career finished the year with the number one ranking beside his name.
"But, you know, glad to help. I aim to please. For him to dominate the hardcourt season the way he did is incredible. I did that in 1995 and it just took a lot out of me."
ATHLETICS: Catherina McKiernan has committed to running the national intercounty cross country championships later this month despite her certain selection for the European championships, writes Ian O'Riordan.
The former four-time world championship silver medallist will tomorrow look to continue her fine form of late at the Margate International Grand Prix in England, and will next compete at the intercounties in Mullingar on November 30th.
The first three finishers in the senior and junior races in Mullingar are assured of selection for the European Championships, set for Edinburgh on December 14th. A further three runners for each team will be selected on the basis of form, yet McKiernan is intent on securing her selection by claiming one of the top three places.
Sonia O'Sullivan has also committed to running the European Championships and is sure of one of the selections based on current form.
Tomorrow's event marks McKiernan's first appearance in an Irish vest in four years.
Irish teams for Margate International Cross Country: Senior Men: Thomas Carey (Bilboa AC), Robert Connolly (DSD), Seamus Power (Kilmurray/Ibrikane); Senior Women: Catherina McKiernan (Annlee AC) Rosemary Ryan (Bilboa), Ann Marie Larkin (UCD); Junior Men: Mark Christie (Mullingar H), Colin Costello (Star of the Sea), James King (Letterkenny), Patrick Whyte (DSD), Richard Yates (Raheny); Junior women: Finnuala Britton (Sli Chulainn), Orla Drumm (Limerick), Cherly Guinney (North Belfast).
