SNOOKER giantkiller Ali Carter is no respecter of reputations - as Gwent's former world champion Mark Williams (pictured) found to his cost at the Stan James British Open in Newcastle last nightt.

The 22-year-old Essex professional's 5-2 victory enabled him to reach the quarter-finals of the £666,000 event.

It also meant he added world No 1 Williams' scalp to those of Stephen Hendry, John Parrott and Steve Davis gained during the last couple of years.

Cwm's Williams had scraped through his opening match against Paul Davies 5-4, but this time there was no escape for the out-of-sorts left hander.

"My game is just dire at the moment but there's no point in worrying about it," shrugged the former world champion.

"The way I am playing there is no chance of me winning another tournament. The only person I could beat with a bit of confidence is Stephen Hendry," joked Williams, referring to his stablemate's own abysmal form at present.

"At the moment I haven't got any appetite or hunger for the game. I'm just looking forward to going home and having a game of golf. It's sad really."

Carter, the world number 61 from Tiptree, is looking forward to a match against Scotland's Graeme Dott or Joe Perry from Wisbech.

"It was a struggle for both of us, but I just managed to scrap it out," said the 1999 young player of the season.

"I knew Mark was struggling and if I'm on my game I can beat the top players. To be honest I'd rather play them because I know I have nothing to lose." Carter burst on to the scene two years ago, defeating Hendry for the first time on his way to the Grand Prix semi-finals.

He followed up by capturing the Benson and Hedges Championship at Malvern and then defeating Davis in the Masters at Wembley.

"I was 19 and I thought I'd done it all," he agreed. "I won 50-60 grand and thought I was here to stay.

"But I got a kick up the backside the next season when my results weren't so good. Now, I know I can win matches when I'm not playing as well as I can."

Carter came from 2-1 down to beat Williams, helped by breaks of 63, 58 and 88. Glaswegian Alan McManus and Stephen Lee from Trowbridge also qualified for the quarter-finals.

World number six Lee came from 2-0 down to beat Fergal O'Brien 5-2 while O'Brien's fellow Dubliner Ken Doherty slipped up 5-4 against McManus.