Snooker: Davis has his eye on pot not politics

STEVE DAVIS took a break from snooker politics to keep his 100 per cent record intact in the Liverpool Victoria Champions Cup here yesterday.

Davis, locked in a power struggle with the sport's authorities, had his mind tuned to playing matters when he defeated Mark Williams, the world No 3, 4-2 to make a mockery of pre-tournament odds which put him 33-1 for the title.

The six-times former world champion is leading a campaign to remove Rex Williams as chairman of the game's governing body following nearly two years of in-fighting.

His immediate attention, though, was turned yesterday morning to another Williams, Welshman Mark, who won three world ranking titles last season, and he duly recorded his first victory over the left-hander since January 1995.

Davis said: "It's an absolute joy to be involved in what snooker's really about. After board meetings, I've gone home to practise and it's a great feeling to simply play snooker.

"I have no intention of getting involved in politics again but this is something I feel strongly about. I believe that we should have top business people advising us on how to run the game but there is currently a difference in ideals."

Davis won the first frame on the blue before Williams knocked in breaks of 44 and 60 to level at 1-1. A run of 63 put Davis ahead in the third and he sealed the frame by fluking the yellow. Further breaks of 48, 68, and 51 proved to be decisive as the 42-year-old went to the top of Group B and remains on course for a semi-final place.

Williams, who lost his opening match to Stephen Hendry on Saturday, said: "As far as I'm concerned, I'm now out. Although I'm playing well in practice, I need to improve a great deal and Steve outplayed me in every part of the game."