Snooker: Ebdon falls to Prince

Peter Ebdon was knocked out of the Liverpool Victoria United Kingdom Championship in Preston yesterday and then said his farewells to two of his three racehorses.

Ebdon was unseated 9-5 in the third round by Jason Prince of Northern Ireland. Despite the setback - his fourth defeat in five matches this season - Ebdon reaffirmed his commitment to becoming the world's best player. "That's why I'm putting the horses up for sale," he said, accepting that his concentration on his profession needs to be total.

Prince now meets the Scotsman Alan McManus for a place in the quarter- finals. It will be his fifth appearance in the last 16.

World No 16 Stephen Lee knocked out Chris Small 9-4 and plays Ken Doherty or Neil Foulds in the fourth round.