Ken Doherty admitted he only had himself to blame after letting his grip on the Thailand Masters slip against Stephen Lee in Bangkok this afternoon. The Dubliner crashed to a 5-4 defeat in three hours after missing a straightforward black in the deciding frame. Doherty took a tight first frame 62-40, but the Englishman hit back with the highest break of his ten-year professional career, a 144 total clearance, in the second frame.
Lee went on to lead 4-3 with a pair of 61 breaks, but Doherty drew level after a century of his own to force a ninth frame. However, Doherty missed a routine black when in control and with it went his chance of holding on to the title he won twelve months ago. Lee sealed the title-holder's fate with a late contribution of 32.
The Irish number one made no excuses for the miss, admitting: "It was a bad black to miss. I had a chance, I wasted it so I've only got myself to blame. At least it was a good match and it took someone playing well to beat me."
Lee will face John Higgins in the semi-finals following his 5-3 victory over Matthew Stevens. Fergal O'Brien also went out today after a comprehensive 5-1 defeat to recent China open winner Mark Williams. The Welshman will meet Ronnie O'Sullivan in the other semi-final following his 5-3 victory over Scotland's Stephen Hendry.
Filed by Shane Murray
