DAVE Finbow's season began with defeat in Newport yesterday as he lost four frames in a row to a player ranked 50 places below him.

Leigh-based Finbow, the world number 39, led 3-1 at the interval before going down 5-3 to world number 89 Jason Prince in the third qualifying round of the British Open.

Finbow. 32, was confident ahead of the season and will be disappointed, but must pick himself up to face world number 88 from Telford Adrian Gunnell in the third qualifying round of the Grand Prix today.

Elsehwere, 1995 world semi-finalist Andy Hicks was the victim of a shock 5-2 defeat against world number 67 John Lardner.

At the Champions Cup in Brighton Mark Williams plays John Higgins in the first semi-final today.