Snooker: Hamilton beats Doherty at China Open

Ireland’s Ken Doherty is out of the China Open after losing 5-4 to Anthony Hamilton in the quarter-finals in Shanghai this morning.

Doherty had taken a 2-0 lead and looked like winning the third frame, but Hamilton stole the frame with a 58 clearance as he mounted a spirited comeback. Hamilton won the next three frames to take a 4-2 lead before Doherty regained his composure and levelled the match at 4-4.

However, Hamilton held his nerve in the decider to book a place in the semi-finals.

British teenager Mark Selby also continued his remarkable run this morning by beating world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-3 to secure the second semi-final place.

The 18-year-old, ranked 95th in the world, raced into a 4-1 lead before O’Sullivan came back to 4-3, but the youngster stayed calm and secured victory in the eighth frame.

Selby had already sent Joe Swail and Stephen Hendry crashing out of the competition after beating them in the earlier rounds.

Later today, John Higgins will play Darren Morgan and Mark Williams will play Stephen Lee for the remaining two semi-final places.