Dubliner Ken Doherty has made it through to the quarter-finals of the UK Championship in York with a 9-3 victory over Dominic Dale. All of the world's top eight players have made it through to the this stage of the game's second most prestigious ranking tournament and it now looks set for a thrilling climax thanks to the absence of any major upsets in these early rounds.
Leading 6-2 after yesterday’s first session, Doherty always looked like a strong favourite to progress but Dale, a surprise winner of the 1997 Grand Prix, sent out a warning to Doherty last night with a total clearance of 140, the biggest of the tournament so far and began today’s session in top gear.
Dale won frame nine with a 93 break to threaten a fightback but it proved to be his only joy as Doherty kept his cool to take the next three frames with little difficulty to set up a clash with Welshman Matthew Stevens in the next round.
"We both played very well yesterday, Dominic must have been very frustrated to have made breaks of 81 and 140 and be 6-2 down," said Doherty. "He gave me a few chances today and all I had to do was take them. It got a bit scrappy towards the end but to get through is the most important thing."
John Higgins and Mark Williams ensured their places in the quarter-finals with victories tonight over Benson & Hedges Masters hero Paul Hunter and Scotland's Alan McManus respectively. Higgins looks a strong contender for the title after an impressive 9-5 win despite trailing 3-1 in the opening session while Williams also looks to be at his best with a 9-7 win that included a break of 107.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
