Snooker: Matthew Stevens, the 22-year-old Welshman who won his first major title, the Scottish Masters, eight weeks ago, snatched three frames with substantial clearances in taking a 5-3 overnight lead over Ronnie O'Sullivan in their best-of-17 frames quarter-final of the UK Championship at Bournemouth.

Stevens built up a 4-3 lead, but O'Sullivan seemed certain to level 4-4 when he led by 36 with only 35 on the table. However, from his failed red, Stevens laid the one snooker he needed, extracted a free ball from O'Sullivan's impulsively lashed escape attempt and coolly cleared with 41.

Stephen Hendry accumulated a 5-3 interval lead over Dave Harold, the world number 17, with frame winners of 96, 72, 116 and 92.

Olympics: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) yesterday released a final report outlining 50 recommendations for reform, including the creation of a screening process for members.

Other key recommendations include eventually limiting IOC membership to a maximum of 115, the application of eight-year, renewable terms of service and lowering the age limit for membership to 70 years.

The report will be submitted to an extraordinary session of the IOC membership for a vote on December 11th and 12th.

Surfing: The chairman of the Irish Surfing Federation, Roci Allan, was elected president of the European Surfing Federation at its a.g.m. in Portugal at the weekend.

Allan, who will hold the position for two years, previously headed the federation between 1987 and 1991.