Victorious Bond gunning for gold

Snooker

The Plymouth Pavilions once again proved to be anything but a happy home for the Devon professional Andy Hicks yesterday. Much to the disappointment of his supporters, the world No 18 failed to reach the third round of the British Open by losing to the defending champion, Nigel Bond.

For the third time in four years, Hicks lost a match at the venue 5-4 as Bond earned a last 16 meeting with Tony Drago.

"After winning my first match I thought maybe this is going to be my tournament," the left-hander said.

"But today I played diabolically. I didn't feel as if I could pot a ball. It's really frustrating because in practice I feel as though I'm playing the best snooker I've ever done."

"I don't want to give it up without a fight," Bond said. "And it's going to take someone playing really well to beat me."

Dominic Dale, who put out Jimmy White in the first round, yesterday accounted for the world No 24, Steve James.

Foulds resigns, page 26