Anxiety attack forces Finbow out

O'Sullivan was comfortably ahead in the match

Dave Finbow has pulled out of the UK Snooker Championship after suffering an anxiety attack.

Finbow was scheduled to complete his match against world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan on Tuesday.

He was trailing O'Sullivan 8-0 in the third round when he withdrew for the York event.

O'Sullivan will now face Peter Ebdon in the quarter-finals.

I've got to the end of my tether and I don't enjoy my snooker anymore

Dave Finbow

Finbow said he felt the attack begin in the first frame of the best-of-17 frames match.

"I knew from the first frame something was wrong and by the second I felt very dizzy and nauseous," said Finbow.

"I have never felt as bad as that. I did not even feel like I had a cue in my hand.

"I could not see the pockets and I just did not even feel like I was me.

"It was a very unpleasant couple of hours. It usually comes and goes for a few frames but this time by the third or the fourth I knew it wouldn't get better.

"It is surreal. I have tried everything - even acupuncture. Nothing works."

Final year

Finbow, the world number 47, intends to retire at the end of the season because of the ailment.

"I've got to the end of my tether and I don't enjoy my snooker anymore."

Finbow was well behind in the match after putting just 90 points on the board in the eight frames.

Breaks of 64, 60 and 68 were followed by a 130 in the final frame of the session as O'Sullivan dominated proceedings.

Elsewhere, Matthew Stevens battled to a 9-7 victory over Jimmy White.

Stephen Hendry, who is chasing a sixth UK crown, enjoyed a 9-2 victory over Mark Davis to reach the last eight and Stephen Lee toppled Mark Davis to join him.