JAMIE Burnett revealed snooker no longer gives him the passion it once did as he crashed out in the first round of the World Championship in Sheffield.

After Sunday's session Burnett was in line for his first win at the Crucible in his 22 years on the professional circuit as he led Joe Perry 6-3.

But world no.15 Perry fought back to win seven of eight frames for a 10-6 victory last night, booking a box office tie against reigning world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan on Thursday evening in the process.

Burnett said: "To be honest I don't really bother too much about snooker, I've lost a lot of enjoyment for the game.

"I practice a couple of hours a day perhaps three or four days before the tournament and it's just not the same for me.

"I'm 38, I've been in the game for a long time and I've been a bit fed up with it for a few years now.

"I do get interested when the big tournaments come round like the UK and the Worlds, I try and put a wee more bit time in, but I don't put any pressure on myself for anything.

"If I dropped off the tour it wouldn't make any difference to me to be honest."

Meanwhile, Alan McManus heads into today's session with a shock 6-3 lead over old pal and former No.1 John Higgins in the World Championship first round's all-Scottish tie.

McManus made a sensational start to hold a five-frame advantage but Higgins fought back strongly at the end to reduce the deficit to three in the best-of-19 clash.

The match started brightly enough for the world no.9, knocking in a tricky pink to edge the first frame 62-50.

But after two brief visits to the table each, McManus compiled an 87 break to draw all square.

In the third frame Higgins struggled to string a break together and eventually fouled on the black after McManus' contribution of 47.

World No.35 McManus, who has twice reached the semi-finals at the Crucible, then took a 4-1 lead into the mid-session interval after edging another nervy encounter.

Former world No.6 McManus went on to bag the next two frames, however Higgins finished in fine style to reduce the arrears to three and hold the momentum going into today's session, as former world champion Ken Doherty lies in wait in the second round.

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