SNOOKER: 147 Club's Lee out of worlds

STEPHEN Lee’s recent good form eluded him as he crashed out of the World Championship at the first-round stage.

Lee, who practises at the 147 Club in Swindon, had been in fine fettle heading into the competition at the Crucible but exited tonight at the hands of world number 19 Andrew Higginson.

Trailing 5-4 from the first evening’s play, the Wiltshire man was only able to add two more frames to his total as Higginson took control to run out a 10-6 victor, sealing the win by clearing all but the black ball.

The duo’s stats were very well-matched but Higginson’s greater safety and long pot success gave him the overall edge in the final reckoning, as he progressed to the last 16.