SNOOKER/World Championship:Stephen Hendry's 13-6 world championship defeat by Allister Carter here in Sheffield means the seven-times champion will go for more than 27 months without winning a title of any kind.

"For some reason I can't reproduce my practice form in a match," the 38-year-old Scot confessed. "I don't seem to cue with the same freedom.

"But I must emphasise that Allister was fantastic, especially his safety. I don't remember being snookered so often in my life. I don't remember his safety ever being as good as that. I'd play a decent safety and he'd knock a long one in."

Carter scored heavily, making a break of 111 and seven more over 60; Hendry made one of 92 in an early frame but only one more half-century in a sub-standard performance he declined to attribute to changing cues only three weeks before the championship. Hendry asserted, notwithstanding his run to the final of December's UK Championship: "I played like that with my old cue."

Carter's first quarter-final here guarantees retention of his place in the elite top 16: "It's about time I started playing as well as I can play. I'm not thinking about winning titles. I'm thinking about playing as well as I can and seeing what that brings." Adding to his contentment is that he has for two years been in remission from Crohn's disease, for which he underwent surgery three years ago.

As one great Scot went out, another underlined his title-winning potential as John Higgins, champion here in 1998, completed a 13-4 victory his opponent, Fergal O'Brien described as "brilliant".

Higgins, who has reached only one semi-final this season, acknowledged that it suited him to come into the championship "under the radar". He said: "I had a little grin to myself when everyone was interviewing Graeme Dott (the defending champion who lost in the first round) because it gave me the chance to prepare quietly."

After breaks of 67, 98, 135, 85 and 100 in a session that rounded out the contest Higgins said: "It was good to feel like that again. It's been a while. I'm excited. If I can get on a roll I'll take some stopping."

Ronnie O'Sullivan, who appeared to be sitting pretty after his third century of the match, 105, had extended his lead to 8-3, found himself level at 8-8 going into last evening's final session as the Australian left-hander Neil Robertson, won the remaining five frames before the interval.

Guardian Service