Sport

SPORTS SHORTS

Snooker

John Higgins suffered a heavy defeat to little-known Li Hang in the first round of the International Championship.

The 39-year-old Scot has slipped into steady decline, failing to advance beyond the quarter-finals of any tournament since finishing runner-up at the Wuxi Classic in June 2013.

The four-time world champion was seen off 6-1 by Li, a 24-year-old still striving to make his way in the game since returning to the tour last year.

Li made breaks of 70 and 93 in fending off Higgins (pictured) who had a highest run of 69 as he slumped to a miserable exit. Wishaw cueman Higgins was joined by fellow experienced Scottish potters Graeme Dott and Alan McManus in being knocked out at the last-64 stage, with Dott trounced 6-1 by England's Craig Steadman, despite making a break of 139 in the frame he won, and McManus falling 6-4 to young compatriot Anthony McGill.

Ronnie O'Sullivan had no such trouble against a more established opponent in Leicester's Ben Woollaston, the 38-year-old winning through 6-4 to earn a shot at McGill in the last 32. O'Sullivan plundered breaks of 124, 97 and 87 twice in his opener at the tournament in Chengdu, China.

Jimmy White fell 6-4 to Barry Hawkins, Mark Williams eased to a 6-1 win over Oliver Brown, Mark Allen sped to a 6-0 whitewash against Nigel Bond, and Stuart Bingham earned a 6-4 victory over Robbie Williams.

Golf

Thorbjorn Olesen sealed his second career European Tour title yesterday with a final-round 71 to see off the challenge of Victor Dubuisson at the Perth International.

The 24-year-old Dane took a three-shot lead into the final day at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, and eventually held onto win by as many strokes from Dubuisson.

The Frenchman signed for a closing 66 to finish in outright second after a bogey-free round that featured six birdies.

Olesen was one over through 12 holes, but birdied the 13th and 15th to regain a commanding lead and eventually finish at 17 under.

The win marked Olesen's second title on the European circuit after his maiden breakthrough at the Sicilian Open in April 2012. "It was a tough day but it was worth it - that walk down 18 was beautiful," the world number 130 said. "It's been a couple of years since I won last time, so this gives me a lot of confidence and belief for the last bit of the season."

* Results P57