Ireland's current world champion, Ken Doherty, has signed a five-year deal with Riley and Riley Snooker Clubs worth more than £150,000 over the next five years. It's some compensation for his shock, third round defeat by Londoner Neal Foulds at the Guild Hall on Wednesday.

"It shows that if you put in the hard work and graft you will get the rewards," Doherty said in Preston. "When I first came over to England I had £500 in my pocket. I thought it would last two months. Little did I realise how expensive it was going to be over here."

Doherty's deal will involve the endorsement of Riley products and personal appearances at Riley snooker clubs.

Also, six-time world champion Stephen Hendry dropped the clearest hint yet that he is set to carry on cueing into the next century when he signed a two-year extension to his contract with Riley. The deal is worth more than £100,000 and will take the six-time former world champion through to the year 2002.

Hendry claimed he had no desire to retire. "I don't see any problems keeping up my motivation for the next five years," he said.

"I'm as hungry as ever to win more titles and to regain my world number one spot."