Fu Warning For Gould
Marco Fu sent a stark warning to Martin Gould that he was after revenge ahead of their Crucible re-match when the Betfred,com world championship gets underway next month.
Hong Kong's number one impressively beat the PTC Grand Finalist three-frames-to-nil making breaks of 108, 102 and 52 reducing Gould to role of spectator.
The pair who met at the same stage twelve months ago will face each other over two sessions in SHeffield, where Gould prevailed in a deciding frame shoot-out.
The 29-year-old from North London went on to lead eventual champion, Neil Robertson 11-5 in the next round before losing eight of the last nine to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Revenge is a dish which could remain on the menu even if Fu's attempt to reach the last 16, for if Gould wins and RObertson can get past Judd Trumo they will meet over 25 frames once again.
Stephen Lee was making the early running in Group Seven of the Championship League in Essex, with the former world number three remaining undefeated from his three matches and virtually assuring himself of a place in the four-man play off at the end of day two.
The Trowbridge man beat Fu, Matthew Stevens and Mark King and continued to show the kind of form which makes him a genuine threat in the opening round at Sheffield against world number one, John Higgins.
Higgins, a faller at the first hurdle just twice in his 16 previous Crucible campaigns will be keen ot wipe the memories of his lat trip to the Crucible where he lost to veteran, Steve Davis before becoming embroiled in the News Of The World's match fixing allegations, of which he was later cleared.
With just one place in the Winner's Group left to claim, there remains all to play for on day two with all seven players still in with a chance of joining Mark Selby, Mark Williams, Shaun Murphy, Allister Carter, Ryan Day and Mark Allen who will fight it out later in the week with the reward of a Premier League spot on offer.
