Snooker: Cash advance for Greene

Gerard Greene beat his fellow giant-killer Gary Ponting in Preston yesterday to record the most lucrative victory of his career.

The 24-year-old from Kent defeated his Bristol-based opponent 9-6 to reach the quarter-finals of the Liverpool Victoria UK Championship. Greene's fourth victory of the competition guarantees him pounds 10,800, easily the best pay cheque of his career.

"My previous best was pounds 7,800 for reaching the final qualifying round of the World Championship a few years ago," Greene. "The money's nice but at this stage in my career I'm more interested in the points to help me climb the rankings."