McManus makes an early exit

SNOOKER

Alan McManus, of Scotland, yesterday became the first top-eight seed to go out of the Castella Classic British Open in Plymouth. McManus, the 24-year-old No 7 seed, lost 5-1 to Stoke's Dave Harold in the second round.

McManus' only success came in the second frame, which he won with a break of 54. He lost the next on default after being called for three successive misses on a red when trailing 18-0. Harold, 28, a former Asian Open champion, won the next three with solid breaks of 67, 58 and 73.

McManus, whose form has dipped since winning the Dubai Duty Free Classic in October, said: "I had a terrible run with the balls. It happened in every frame and I don't know why."

Harold, the world No 19, said: "This is the second time I have beaten Alan this season and I think it helped me being on one of the outside tables instead of the centre of attention on the TV match table." Harold now meets either the French Canadian Alain Robidoux or Middlesbrough's John Birch for a place in the quarter-finals.

Peter Ebdon, the new Benson and Hedges Irish Masters champion, continued his bid for back-to-back titles by coasting to a 5-1 victory over the Welshman Wayne Jones. The Londoner scored consistently in all his winning frames, compiling decisive breaks of 72, 52, 40, 50, 46 and 44 to ease into the last 16.

He now faces the Thai world No 3, James Wattana, or the Englishman Dean Reynolds. Ebdon said: "I've had a bit of a break since winning in Ireland and that gave me a chance to recuperate and be as fresh as possible for this tournament.

"There are six to 10 players who can win the World Championship this year and I fancy my chances, although I've not yet really started to think about The Crucible."