Snooker: Higgins sunk by `Swampy'

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John Higgins yesterday became the first major failure of the Benson and Hedges Masters at Wembley when he lost his opening match to Anthony Hamilton.

It is the third year in a row that the world No 2 has failed to win a match at the sport's most lucrative invitation event.

The improving Hamilton was hardly the ideal opponent if he was to end that run. Hamilton, known as "Swampy", ran out a 6-3 winner after compiling breaks of 46, 48, and 82 to lead 3-2 and a 133 clearance in the sixth frame.