White and Hendry out

Jimmy White and Stephen Hendry bowed out of the British Open in Newcastle yesterday. White was beaten 5-2 by another left-hander, Andy Hicks, while Hendry's progress was arrested by Anthony Davies, who beat the former world champion 5-1.

"It's great to play like this again," said Hicks, who is now guaranteed £10,900 and a match with the title holder, Peter Ebdon, tomorrow after Ebdon defeated John Parrott 5-4. Hicks, the world No 46, finished White off with a superb 100 break after earlier notching a run of 122 plus another half-century. His heavy scoring proved too much for the Whirlwind, who has now lost nine matches in a row dating back to last March.

This was hardly the start the 39-year-old Londoner was hoping to make to his new ranking tournament season after breaking back into the top 16.

Hendry was dreadful against teh Welshman Davies, who considered abandoning the sport two years ago to join the police force. The Scot said: "People will be correct to write me off after that performance."