Snooker: Bradford's Simon Bedford is one of three rank outsiders in the betting for the £1,323,000 Embassy World Championships, which start in 16 days at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre..

The 22-year-old Fairweather Green left-hander, who meets Steve Davis in the first round, is bracketed at 200-1 with William Hill to win the event - the same mark as Peter Lines of Leeds and Mansfield's Jason Ferguson.

Bedford, who has already won nine matches in the event, said: "Steve was one of the players who inspired me to take up snooker and I can't wait to play him.

"Obviously, he is going to be the hot favourite, but I'm sure to have plenty of vocal support."

Lines meets former champion John Parrott, while Ferguson plays third favourite John Higgins (6-1).

Six-times champion Stephen Hendry has moved out from 6-4 to 15-8 after being drawn against Jimmy White, who has gone out to 50-1 from 40-1.

James Wattana is 40-1 and Birstall's Jason Prince is a 150-1 shot.

William Hill odds: 15-8 Hendry; 4-1 O'Sullivan; 6-1 Higgins; 13-2 Doherty; 10-1 Williams; 14-1 Parrott; 25-1 Stevens, Bond, Ebdon, Davis; 33-1 Mcmanus, Lee; 40-1 Hamilton, Wattana, King; 50-1 Hicks, O'Brien, White; 66-1 Morgan; 80-1 Harold, Drago, Murphy; 100-1 Burden, Robidoux, Gray, Swail, Hann; 150-1 Prince, Walker; 200-1 Ferguson, Lines, Bedford.

Order of Play includes: Saturday, April 18 2.30 James Wattana v Fergal O'Brien; Sunday, April 19 10.00 Wattana v O'Brien (to finish), 2.30 Steve Davis v Simon Bedford; Monday, April 20 10.00 Davis v Bedford (to finish); 2.30 John Parrott v Peter Lines; Tuesday, April 21 10.00 Parrott v Lines (to finish), 2.30 Jason Prince v Darren Morgan; Wednesday, April 22 10.00 Prince v Morgan (to finish), 7.00 Stephen Hendry v Jimmy White; Thursday, April 23 7.00 Hendry v White (to finish).

Before that Jason Prince and Peter Lines will compete in the £350,000 British Open, which started today at Plymouth Pavilions.

Lines plays Nick Pearce tomorrow (2.30), while Prince meets John Lardner at 7.00.

Calverley's Joe Johnson is also on tomorrow night's programme against Stuart Pettman, but Paul Hunter must wait until Saturday before facing Gary Ponting (2.30).

Hunter needs a good run at Plymouth if he is to claim a top 16 ranking for next season.

Bradford's billiards team had a fine 5-2 victory over Leeds No 1 in the Yorkshire Inter-District League at Lilycroft WMC.

Mark Hirst trailed Ronnie Haigh 57-30 but cruised to a 200-86 win with breaks of 84 and an unfinished 65.

Richard Lodge had a 45 on his way to a 200-106 success over Harry Whitby, but, although Alan Firth closed to just 82-74 down against Stan Brooke, he lost 200-154.

Bradford are at Bradley and Colne Bridge WMC on Saturday facing Huddersfield No 2 in an inter-district clash (7.30).

Bradford billiards champion Hirst has a 300-122 lead over Brian Watson in an unfinished quarter-final. The winner plays Firth, the other semi-final being Lodge against Paul Devitt.

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