Snooker: Doherty still on course for hat-trick

Ken Doherty is just one win away from joining snooker greats Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis in the record books after joining Peter Ebdon in the Regal Scottish Open final.

After Ebdon's 6-4 success over Scotland's Drew Henry, Doherty followed up by beating Yorkshireman Paul Hunter 6-3.

It was the Irishman's 14th successive victory in ranking tournaments and win number 15 would give him a third ranking title in a row - an achievement only managed in the past by Hendry and Davis.

"To win three in a row would be a great milestone," said the former world champion from Dublin.

"If I do it great, but if it doesn't happen I won't be too disappointed because I've already got two trophies on the telly back home."

Doherty, a winner of the Welsh Open and Thailand Masters titles this year, made the perfect start.

He captured the first four frames in a repeat of his Welsh Open final with Leeds-based Hunter.

Doherty conceded just 14 points before B&H Masters champion Hunter stopped the rot in frame five.

He won the sixth frame as well to cut his arrears in half but a break of 74 left the world number seven just one from victory.

Hunter took frame eight with his only half-century of the match but Doherty's final effort of 68 was good enough to book another final appearance.

"It made a change for me to win the first frame this week because in all my other matches I've usually found myself two or three frames behind," said Doherty.