Ireland's Ken Doherty has progressed to the last 16 of the European Open in Malta after a 5-1 victory over Australian Quinten Hann. Doherty, whose career almost came to a untimely end following an accident three weeks ago, won the fourth frame to take a 3-1 lead and breaks of 85 and 99 completed his victory.
The Dubliner revealed today that he was lucky to be at Malta at all following his accident. "I slipped in the bathroom and nearly lost my left eye," he explained. "I caught it on an ornament and needed five stitches. I could have poked my eye out and would probably never have been able to play again. Obviously, I'm just grateful to be here," he said. Doherty will now face Scotland's Alan McManus in the next round.
McManus made a brilliant start in his bid to win the European Open for the first time despite enduring a nightmare journey to Malta for the event. The world number 12 defeated Bradford's Craig Butler 5-0 for the loss of a mere 73 points to reach the last 16 of the £250,000 event, having arrived in the country just 11 hours before he was due to play.
The Scot had intended to travel on Friday but arrived at London's Heathrow airport without his passport, which was back in his Glasgow home. "I was told something could possibly have been sorted out. But that would have meant going to the passport office, filling in loads of forms and hanging around for hours. I thought it would be easier to get the plane home and I was back by 12.30," he explained. McManus then elected to head to Malta on Saturday night. "I've had a bit of ribbing - but you'd have to expect that. It doesn't seem to have affected me at all - I feel fine," he said.
Also joining Doherty and McManus in the last 16 is world number three John Higgins, who won the European Open on its last staging in Malta four years ago. Higgins beat fellow Scot Jamie Burnett 5-1 in a scrappy encounter.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
