Snooker
PA Sport 7y

Giant-killer Oliver Lines on winning UK Championship: I'm playing well enough

Snooker

YORK -- Giant-killer Oliver Lines extended his impressive run at the UK Championship and is confident he can go on to win the whole tournament.

The previously little-known 21-year-old from Leeds followed up a shock second-round win against Judd Trump with a 6-0 dismantling of Jimmy Robertson.

And after guaranteeing himself career-best prize money of at least £15,000, Lines insisted he was not finished yet: "I could win it," he said. "I'm playing well enough to win it.

Lines revealed stablemate Trump had sent him a text message before the match with Robertson. "Judd messaged me, saying 'You'd better not lose this game'," Lines said. "He said if I lost this game there'd be a fine -- because we're from the same management.

"Obviously he was joking but hopefully I can push on now because I'm feeling very confident."

Lines fired in breaks of 90, 51, 67 and 72 in sealing a shot at Marco Fu in the last 16, and he is guaranteed to rise from 61st to at least 53rd in the world rankings next week.

If he keeps the run going, a debut in the top 50 beckons.

As the prize money keeps soaring, Lines, whose father Peter lost in the third round on Monday, has promised to reward his family.

"I've got a few texts from my two sisters already asking what I'm getting them for Christmas. I haven't really thought about what I'll do with the money but obviously it's a nice bonus isn't it, just before Christmas. But hopefully I'm not finished yet," he said.

"I'll have to treat my stepmum as well because she's always here supporting. She'll be getting a good treat this year."

Welshman Matthew Stevens set up an appealing fourth-round clash with Ronnie O'Sullivan after a 6-2 victory against Joe Perry, and insisted the in-form 'Rocket' is beatable.

Stevens won this tournament in 2003 but will have his hands full on Wednesday against a player who has lost just one frame in three matches at the Barbican Centre this fortnight.

O'Sullivan was described as "not human" by vanquished third-round opponent Michael Georgiou, but Stevens is having none of that talk.

Stevens said. "I've had a good run, and if I can put Ronnie under pressure, he is human after all, he does miss balls. But you need to get off to a good start against Ronnie and put him under the cosh.

"He's probably played about three hours in three matches. If I can play well there's no reason I can't win, but I'll have to be on top of my game because Ronnie's the best player in the world by far."

Shaun Murphy, the 2008 UK champion, edged home 6-5 against Dominic Dale, while Mark Williams won by the same margin against Ricky Walden after fighting back from 5-3 adrift.

Tuesday's evening session saw Welshman Jamie Jones knock out Chinese world number five Ding Junhui 6-2, while Mark Allen of Nothern Ireland edged out Wales' Ryan Day 6-5.

Stephen Maguire won a final-frame decider to edge out Ireland's Fergal O'Brien 6-5, while China's Zhang Anda knocked out Englishman Mitchell Mann 6-3.

^ Back to Top ^