Former World Snooker Champion John Parrott appears to be on the brink of calling time on his 27 year snooker career after he lost to Chinese teenager Anda Zhang in the World Championship qualifiers yesterday.

The 10-6 defeat leaves Parrott in the precarious position of 65th in the world, one place away from a spot on the tour next season and the 1991 Crucible winner was resigned in chances of competing again in the future.

“If I’m off the tour, it’s fairly certain that I’ll retire. I certainly won’t be playing any…”

Chinese sensation, Ding Junhui, came from behind to beat John Higgins and lift the UK Championship.

It looked grim for the 14th seed at 7-6 down, but the 2005 UK Champion showed all of his battling qualities to prevail in what was an extremely entertaining final.

“It’s been a crazy week” Junhui said. “I can’t believe it. It’s brilliant. I am concentrating more. I had some bad shot selections but I…

Shaun Murphy reeled off four frames in succession to clinch a 7-3 victory over Ronnie O’Sullivan and win his first ever Premier League title crowd at the Potters Leisure Resort in Hopton-on-Sea, Norfolk.

Murphy’s triumph ended O’Sullivan’s five year reign of the event and he acknowledged the Rocket’s stranglehold of the Premier League after the game – “It would have been a great achievement for Ronnie to win it six years in a row and he deserves a lot of credit to win it five years in a row.”

Jimmy White rolled back the years to defeat Barry Hawkins 8-6 in the final of the Sangsom 6-red World Grand Prix 2009.

The six times World Championship runner-up picked up a million-baht (approx £18,200) for winning the Montien Riverside Hotel event in Thailand

White, who had only received a wild card entry into the tournament, chalked up impressive wins against Shaun Murphy, Ricky Walden and Mark Williams on his way to reaching the final.

World Snooker have confirmed that the 2009 UK Championship will once again he held at the Telford International Centre this December.

A World Snooker spokesman said: “We have been delighted with the success of the tournament at Telford over the past two years and we are looking forward to returning in December.”

The line-up for next season’s Premier League has been finalised with rising young star Judd Trump completing the seven man field.

The youngster from Bristol came through the Championship League Snooker to book his spot in the Sky Sports event and can now look forward to games against Ronnie O’Sullivan, Shaun Murphy, John Higgins, Marco Fu, Neil Robertson and Stephen Hendry.

John Higgins is the new World Snooker Champion after defeating 2005 winner Shaun Murphy 18-9 at the Crucible theatre.

“I’m over the moon!” said a beaming Higgins to Ray Stubbs in the aftermath of what was an entertaining battle.

“I’ve won two out of the last three and there’s no reason why I can’t go on and win some more.” he continued.

The victory was no less than the Scot deserved having controlled the match from yesterday’s second session when an 11-5 lead put the groundwork down for today’s afternoon session where he increased his lead further to 16-8.

Can two-time Crucible winner John Higgins seal a hat-trick of World Championship victories when he takes on 2005 champion Shaun Murphy?

The ‘Wizard of Wishaw’ triumphed back in 1998 and 2007, but can take nothing for granted against an opponent who has enjoyed a rich vein of form in Sheffield.

Higgins led 11-5 after the first two sessions. However, this match is far from over and Murphy will be looking to close the gap heading into tonight’s final session.