Doherty faces Hunter after win over Maguire

Ken Doherty will take on Paul Hunter in the next round of the Powerhouse UK Championship in York.

Doherty won his first match of the season against Stephen Maguire in an edgy 9-7 second-round encounter.

Northern Ireland's Joe Swail is in danger of crashing out of the event. He resumes today 7-1 down to Robert Milkins.

Doherty has endured a miserable start to the 2002-2003 campaign but it was fourth time lucky against Stephen Maguire last night.

The 1997 world champion recently lost in an exhibition match to Alex Higgins in Dublin though he also compiled the first 147 maximum break of his career in a Pro-Am in Killarney.

Maguire played his part in a marvellous match but Doherty went through to meet Hunter after a 9-7 success.

“This is a big tournament and all the top players relish the longer term matches,” said Doherty.

“You cannot really settle in these best of nine short gallops. The cream will always rise in the longer games.

“It’s a tough match for me but I’m playing better now and if I play like I did against Stephen, Paul must play even better to beat me.”

Elsewhere yesterday, Stephen Hendry won 9-4 against Dominic Dale, with Paul Hunter dispatching David Gray 9-1. Graeme Dott edged out Kwan Poomjang 9-8.

British Open champion Hunter was impressive during his 9-1 thrashing of David Gray, tipped as a top 16 star of the future.

“It’s been proved at the world and UK Championships there are usually no surprise winners of these tournaments,” said Hendry following his 9-4 victory over Welshman Dominic Dale.

“However, on any given day it’s possible someone else can win. Chris Small proved that in Preston.

“The way he played to beat John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan was as good a standard as any of the top players.

“It may not have been as pretty to watch but he still did the business.”

Hendry’s last 16 opponent will be fellow Scot Graeme Dott who ensured results went to form against Kwan Poomjang.

Dott, runner-up in last season’s British Open, was certainly pleased for the extra frames as he needed a decider to put out the unknown Thai 9-8.

Top 16 trio Quinten Hann, Joe Perry and Mark King will hope Doherty’s words come true when they take on Marco Fu, Chris Small and Steve Davis respectively.

All three are seeking their first victories of the season while their opponents have already got a win under their belts.

There’s added spice to the King-Davis clash with a leather jacket going to the winner.

Six times UK champion Davis remains adamant King has never returned a leather jacket he promised to bring home from Thailand last March.

King, Davis’ practice partner and fellow Essex professional, insists he doesn’t know anything about it.

“I’ve told Mark I want it back or I want a replacement if I win,” grinned Davis, who is certainly anxious for victory to improve his chances of returning to the world’s top 16.

Jimmy White is one of Davis’ victims this season and he could now become the first top 16 casualty at this season’s UK Championship.

Scotland’s Drew Henry leads the ’Whirlwind’ 6-2 and is confidant of obtaining the three frames that will see him into round three.

World number 16 Joe Swail is in an even more precarious position trailing qualifier Rob Milkins 7-1 after yesterday’s opening session.