SNOOKER/Irish Masters: Dublin's Fergal O'Brien joined Joe Swail as the second Irish player of three in the competition to exit the Irish Masters in the first round at Citywest yesterday.
O'Brien, facing seven times World Champion Stephen Hendry, whom he had beaten just once, six years ago when the event was held in Goffs, led or stayed level with Hendry for four frames despite Hendry's 112 in the second, the fourth century of the tournament.
But the Scot imperceptibly lifted his game after the interval with a 98 break and another century helping him on his way to three straight frame wins.
In that phase, O'Brien was able only to watch, contributing only 35 points over half an hour as Hendry moved to take control of the match at 5-2.
Sensing his position of strength, the world number five closed out the match in the eighth frame 78-8 to earn a quarter-final place against compatriot John Higgins tomorrow afternoon.
"In the second half of the match I got into it and scored heavily," said Hendry afterwards.
O'Brien was typically stoic in defeat. "I thought I could have won the fourth frame and maybe could have pinched one for 4-3. It was a great experience. He's still as hungry as ever, still setting the standard," he said.
Jimmy White's ill fortune in the afternoon session was to meet someone in as good form as he was himself. Only a roll of the ball separated the two players in a match that went down to the last frame, Stevens finally earning the right to face World and Irish Masters champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in tomorrow night's quarter-final.
The crowd were unhesitating in their disapproval of White's exit, which fittingly lived up to more of a whirlwind departure than a gasp. Two century breaks either side of the fourth frame interval and still the twice winner of the event lost 6-5 to the world number six.
Stevens took a 3-1 lead with White reacting by keeping the 24-year-old stitched to his seat for the next three frames for 4-3. But again Stevens muscled on to the table for two frames to lead 5-4 in the tightest pairing so far.
It was then Stevens appeared to have opened up the match when he allowed White stay in the 10 frame after missing the final ball trailing 62-58 and 5-4 up. White subsequently pocketed the black for 5-5 to send it to a final deciding frame.
But it was Stevens who curtailed White's visits to the table to two for a 14-point total and, stringing together breaks of 30, 21 and 24, won 75-14 for the match. White was quietly seething afterwards.
"I played very well," said the 39-year-old. "I thoroughly enjoyed the match. It's sickening to lose. Missed a red on 23 when I was 4-3 up and the first game I should have won, missed about five chances.
"I can still play. If I couldn't play I wouldn't be here. I play in practice matches and exhibitions and make 147s. I'm hitting the ball really well."
FIRST ROUND: M Stevens (Wales) bt J White (Eng) 6-5 (Frome scores, Stevens first: 66-53, 89-0, 6-106, 70-31, 0-106, 62-65, 20-97, 90-23, 77-0, 58-69, 75-14); S Hendry (Scot) bt F O'Brien (Ire) 6-2 (Frame scores, Hendry first: 43-82, 112-0, 0-74, 63-59, 98-13, 75-17, 100-5, 78-8)
