SNOOKER: Fu earns his reward

HONG KONG'S Marco Fu has been rewarded for his meteoric rise to prominence with the award of a wild card into next year's Liverpool Victoria Charity Challenge. However, news of Fu's elevation alongside 11 of the game's leading players took his new manager Ian Doyle by surprise.

"It may well be Marco was asked prior to joining our organisation," Doyle said. "But it would have been nice had the WPBSA [the sport's governing body] told me before the news was made public."

Doyle was unaware of Fu's inclusion in the tournament, to be held at Derby next February, until yesterday's draw.

Fu, a finalist in last month's Grand Prix, plays Welshman Mark Williams while the defending champion, John Higgins takes on Peter Ebdon or Steve Davis.