Davis takes cue from father

SNOOKER

Steve Davis produced his best form of the season to beat Mike Hallett 5-0 and reach the last 16 of the European Open in Antwerp last night.

Davis, winner of the event two years ago, fired in back-to-back centuries of 108 and 112 on his way to the second round, where he will meet his old rival, Terry Griffiths, for the 37th time.

Griffiths' task can be measured by the fact he has only beaten Davis five times and the last of those was six years ago. "I haven't played as well as that for a long time," Davis said. "Perhaps it had something to do with the fact I was playing with my father's cue which suits me fine."

The six times world champion was forced to change cues just before last month's UK Championship when he damaged his own beyond repair. But for the first time in his career he then failed to reach the televised stages. "What I'm looking for now is continuity of match play to get back into the swing of things," he said.