Snooker: Higgins faces tough task

Alex Higgins will face a tough opponent in Mark Flowerdew in the final qualifying round of the pounds 325,000 Skoda Grand Prix. Flowerdew, from Basingstoke, reached the last 96 in Blackpool last night with a 5-0 whitewash of Londoner Steven Archer and will now be looking to cause a shock when he meets the controversial former world champion. Flowerdew was the surprise package of last year's Grand Prix when he battled through to the last 16 before losing 5-3 to eventual winner Peter Ebdon. In other matches, former British Open champion Tony Meo was unexpectedly defeated 5-4 by Preston's Leigh Robinson, the world No 203. Mark Davis pulled off a great escape to protect his unbeaten record for the season. He made it four consecutive wins by beating Preston's Stuart Pettman 5-4 after trailing 4-0 at the interval. Mark King, a regular practice partner of the other Davis, Steve, recorded a brisk 5-1 win over Wolverhampton's Darryn Walker in only 69 minutes.