IT was Ian Hurdman's misfortune to come up against an opponent on top of his game when making his last ever appearance in the Benson and Hedges Snooker Championship.

Hurdman faced Mark Davis at the Towers Snooker Club in Mansfield after receiving an opening match bye against male stripper Andrew Milliard.

Milliard failed to appear after a mix- up over dates but Sussex-based Davis was on time and raring to go in the £40,000 tournament yesterday.

"I could probably have had an easier match than this one and it would have been good to have a game on these tables under my belt. But it was the same for Mark and I'm not using it as an excuse," said the 29-year-old from Droitwich who lost 5-1.