Snooker: Hendry puts Williams in semi-finals

STEPHEN HENDRY reached the last four of the Liverpool Victoria Champions Cup in Croydon last night after his 4-1 victory over Steve Davis denied the six-times world champion a place in the semi-finals. The score meant Mark Williams also reached the last four.

Hendry or Davis could have progressed from Group B at the Welshman's expense had the scoreline been 4-3 either way. Instead, the Irish and Welsh Open champion went through by virtue of having gained one more frame than Davis in the four pool matches.

Hendry topped the table, although his opponent in the next phase remains in doubt until the completion of Group A today.

"Both of us knew we only needed three frames to go through, which was a strange situation because normally all you're thinking about is just winning the match," he said.

Hendry can expect to face John Higgins or Ronnie O'Sullivan, who top Group A with victories from their first two games.