Doherty produces another great escape

Ken Doherty pulled off a trademark great escape to book his place in the second round of the Star Group China Open in Beijing today.

Doherty recovered from 4-2 adrift to edge Australian left-hander Neil Robertson 5-4 as he completed the latest in a long line of comebacks this season.

The most notable of these was when he beat John Higgins 9-8 from 8-5 down in the Malta Cup final last month.

“I only seem to come alive when I’m behind,” said Doherty, who came to Beijing fourth in the provisional rankings.

“Twelve months ago I’d probably have lost 5-2 but what I’ve done this season has given me a lot of self-belief and other players are wary that I can come back when I go behind.”

Stephen Hendry, the runner-up last year, breezed through to the last 16 at the expense of Barry Hawkins, who had beaten the Scot at the same stage of the Welsh Open earlier this month.

Hendry, who won the first ranking event staged in China 16 years ago, won 5-1 to avenge his 5-3 defeat to Hawkins in Newport.

“It focuses the mind when you play someone as good as Barry in the first round,” said Hendry, who currently tops the provisional rankings ahead of John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan.

Hendry won the opening frame on the pink, the third on the black with a 71 clearance, the fourth on the pink and the sixth on the blue as Hawkins failed to take his chances.

“I love playing in China,” Hendry added. “The table was lovely and the crowd were fantastic. You know there will be a few mobile phones going off so it isn’t so bad. It’s only a problem when you don’t expect it.

“It’s nice to come to a place where the people genuinely appreciate what you’ve done in the game.”

Stephen Lee, who won the Welsh Open for his first title in four years, defeated David Gray 5-2.