Mehmet Husnu, first featured in the News Shopper three weeks ago, went out in the fourth round of the Benson & Hedges Snooker Champion-ship, held in Mansfield.

But it was a tournament that Husnu will not forget in a hurry.

He had a bye in the first round and was then drawn against the world's No.1 lady player Stourbridge's Kelly Fisher, who was the only female in the event.

It looked like the proverbial "banaka skin" for Husnu, from Sydenham, and it very nearly was.

Fisher only needed to pot the yellow ball in the best-of-five-frame match to take a 4-2 lead.

But, much to the relief of Husnu, her shot rattled in the jaws of the pocket but did not drop.

Husnu came to the table and made no mistake but still needed to sink the remaining colours. But he did so to level at three frames all before winning the next two and the match 5-3 to set up a third-round tie against former top star and current world-ranked No.32 James Wattana, from Thailand.

Husnu played brilliantly and beat Wattana 5-3 to earn a fourth round game against Palmers Green's Nick Walker.

But Husnu found Walker in irrepressible form and was whitewashed 5-0.

None of the other south Londoners taking part progressed beyond the fourth round.

Beckenhan's Barry Hawkins, had an excellent 5-1 win over Leicester's Tom Ford in round three after first and second round byes.

But Hawkins then found Pontefract's Jimmy Michie too good in round four, losing 5-1.

Blackheath's Benjamen Garrett was involved in a thrilling second round tie against Jason Weston, but unluckily lost 5-4.

New Eltham's Gary Martyn and Greenwich's Anton Bishop were both forced to scratch, while Blackheath's Dave McDonnell, who entered the event at the third round stage, won two frames but lost against Oldham's Michael Wild.

Erith's Paul Sweeny was our other local entry but, after beating Romford's Robert Donkin

5-1 in round two, he found defending champion Shaun Murphy, from Northamptonshire, too strong and lost 5-2.

l Welshman Ryan Day won the title to earn himself a wild card entry into next February's Benson & Hedges Masters Champ-ionship at Wembley.

November 20, 2001 12:49

Gordon Law