Doherty bows out after losing 4-2 lead

KEN DOHERTY became the fifth member of the game’s top eight to bow out of the British Open when he was beaten 5-4 by Devonian left-hander Andy Hicks in Brighton yesterday.

World number seven Doherty joined Mark Williams, Paul Hunter, Matthew Stevens and Peter Ebdon on the casualty list after losing a 4-2 lead.

Hicks highlighted his recovery with a break of 134 in the seventh frame and clinched the decider with a run of 103.