THE chance of a clash of all-time greats in Sunday's Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship final in York is a step closer today with Jimmy White through to the semi-finals.

But Yorkshire hopes of glory have crashed, with Paul Hunter being swept aside 9-3 by close friend Matthew Stevens.

The 'Whirlwind' takes on Welshman Matthew Stevens tomorrow for a place in the final of the second biggest tournament in the game.

And in the other half of the draw Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry are favourites on form to win their respective quarter-finals tonight, which would pit snooker's tormented genius against the seven times world and five times UK champion on Saturday in the second semi-final.

The buzz among the fans after White's 9-3 demolition of Nigel Bond was the possibility of a White v O'Sullivan final, which would be one of the most electrifying clashes in snooker history.

White led 5-3 at the end of the afternoon session and quickly completed the job last night as Bond floundered.

"I was playing my 'B' game," White said later. "I am not quite firing on all cylinders yet but I hope I will be against Matthew. I feel very positive."

Hunter was never able to get his game together after Stevens opened with a 101 break in the first frame and went on to make a 104 and seven other breaks of over 50 on his way to a 9-3 win.

"I do not feel as if I've been playing in a snooker match," Hunter said later. "I am obviously disappointed at losing but even more disappointed with the way I played, especially in the quarter-finals of snooker's second biggest championship."

Stevens said he sees his semi-final tomorrow against White as "a dream match".

The big question tonight is whether O'Sullivan, who two nights ago poured out his heart about struggling with personal problems away from snooker, can keep his demons at bay and maintain his brilliant form to beat Australian Quentin Hann.

Hendry started his quarter-final this afternoon hot favourite to beat world number 36 Barry Pinches to set up a semi-final against O'Sullivan, who two Sundays ago lost to the Scot in the British Open final in Brighton.

Updated: 10:58 Thursday, November 27, 2003