Doherty doing it the hard way as Higgins hits back

KEN DOHERTY is still on course for a semi-final spot at the Embassy World Championship but, after opening up an astonishing 10-0 lead, the Irishman saw John Higgins launch a brave fightback to trail 10-6 overnight.

After leading 8-0 with a first session whitewash, Doherty made the score 10-0 with the help of a 112 break.

Higgins has handed out plenty of first-session drubbings down the years but no player has ever come back from 7-0 down let alone 8-0 in a best-of-25 frames match. But Higgins then sunk 15 reds and 14 blacks with a possible 147 on the table in a 113 break which sparked the Scot to life. He won the session 6-2 to give him a realistic chance of winning the match which finishes today.

Meanwhile, Mark Williams stands three frames away from becoming snooker's new number one for next season after taking a grip on his quarter-final against Stephen Hendry last night.

The Welsh left-hander resumes this morning with a 10-6 lead after taking both of the day's sessions 5-3.

And unless seven-times champion Hendry can find some inspiration over the closing nine frames then his own dream of regaining his number one spot will have vanished for another 12 months.

Williams made his bid for the semi-finals and pole position in the rankings by capturing the last three frames of the evening after Hendry had done his best to keep pace with his great rival.

Indeed, the 34-year-old Scot has been ahead only once during the first 16 frames, taking the opening frame on the black.

He was soon playing catch-up as Williams made breaks of 131 and 115 in three frames.

The UK and Masters champion rarely reaches three figures in his haste to get on with the match.

But his desire to carry on cueing suggested how badly he wants the win and the number one ranking from Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Hendry's patchy victory over compatriot Drew Henry in the previous round guaranteed a top four place on the snooker ladder.

But he must win the title on Monday night to get back to the summit for the first time in five years.

The first four frames of the evening session were shared before Hendry's brought it back to 7-6.

Just when it seemed he was poised to get on terms for the first time since frame six Williams pulled clear again with breaks of 48, 41 and 80.

The winner will play Stephen Lee or Marco Fu for a place in the best of 35 frames final. Lee and Fu resume today tied at 4-4, as do defending champion Peter Ebdon and Paul Hunter.