Outsider set for surprise

Press, 26 April 1988, Page 56

Outsider set for surprise

NZPA-Reuer Sheffield Steve Jjmes, a 500-1 outsider at the star of the tournament, looked set to end the hopes; of the 1986 champion and last year’s beaten fi pa list, Joe Johnson, in the world snooker championship.) The | J lijttle-Known 26-year-old, ranked Nj. 66 in the world, needed only two more, frames yesterday to complete a humiliating defeat for his feliowEnglishman and secure a j quarter-final place.

HI ' ! • . ■ ! I : James,; 7-1 up after a i remarkable -first session, extended his) lead td .11-5 1 by the close, leaving the I world 'I No. i 5 Johnson, ) runnerup to. Steve Davis last year, requiring) eight) of the remaining nine ' frames to ipull off an unlikely escape. i i James has highlighted his performance with a series of impressive century breaks, including a tournament best 140. He - was on) the Verge of compiling a 147) maximum on Saturday only to miss the

fifteenth red when he was on 112.) '. . Ji I . Terry Griffiths, the world champion at his first attempt in 1979, was also well placed Ito reach the last) eight by recording his first win oyer England's Willie Thorne. Thorne has won all four clashes) with the Welshman. including a 10-6 victory in) the fibst round of the 1982 world championship. The j pair hid been locked; togethei at 4-4

after the first session but by the end of Sunday’s second session, Griffiths had taken a 9-7 lead in the first-to-13 match.) In other action Canada’s Cliff Thorburn led England’s John Parrott 53. Latest positions: Second round (best-if-25 frames;: • Steve James (England) leads 5-Joe Johnson (England) 'll-5 (end of second session);! 3-Neal Foulds (England; leads 14-Doug Mountjoy i Wales; i 8-0 (end of first session ;j