SNOOKER: Fu ousts another big name

MARCO FU'S magical mystery tour through the pounds 370,000 Grand Prix continued at Preston Guild Hall last night.

Fu, thrust to prominence after just two months on the pro-circuit, again ignored his shortage of experience to book a place in the semi-finals of the season's opening world ranking event. In the last 16 on Tuesday, Fu outpotted Ronnie O'Sullivan and he followed up with another giant killing 5-3 victory over the eighth seed and former Grand Prix Champion Peter Ebdon.

The 20-year-old Hong Kong player, who began the competition as a 125- 1 outsider, is now just two wins away from claiming the pounds 60,000 first prize and writing a remarkable chapter in snooker's history books.

Fu who, having appeared in only two events last season, has a false world ranking of 377, will now be a strong favourite to add either Chris Small or Jamie Burnett to his list of Grand Prix victims when they meet in a best of 11 frame semi-final on Saturday.

A delighted Fu said: "I'm as surprised as anyone that I have reached this stage."

STEPHEN LEE, THE WORLD NO 9, trounced Quinten Hann 5-0. Lee took only 81 minutes to book a meeting with the winner of the match between Stephen Hendry and Dave Harold.