Ken Doherty defeats Chris Wakelin to move closer to the UK Championship.

Ken Doherty defeated Chris Wakelin 6-4 in his third round qualifier this afternoon to advance to the UK Championships.

 

The result was especially impressive for the veteran, who was in peak form after reaching the final of the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast last month.

But Doherty demonstrated all of his tenacity to advance to the so-called Judgement Day, where he hopes to return to York for the first time in five years.

It was a tumultuous match, with Doherty losing the first frame before winning four of the next five to lead 4-2. Wakelin drew level, but in a match in which his best break was only 52, the 1997 World Champion relied on all of his experience to win.

After defeating Duane Jones in his second round qualifier and Wakelin today, Doherty will face China’s Sijun Yuan tomorrow.

In 1994, 2001, and 2002, the 54-year-old reached the final of the UK Championship.

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DOHERTY AND MAGUIRE MAKE IT TO THE FINAL ROUND

Veteran Ken Doherty remains on course to reach the last 32 of the MrQ UK Championship for the first time since 2014, as he upset the form book with a 6-4 win over Chris Wakelin in the penultimate qualifying round.

Wakelin was runner-up at the recent Northern Ireland Open but couldn’t reproduce that form as he was knocked out by 54-year-old Doherty, who was runner-up in this event in 1994, 2001 and 2002.

From 2-1 down, Ireland’s Doherty won three frames in a row to lead 4-2. Wakelin battled back to 4-4, but Doherty got the better of the last two frames and now faces a Judgement Day clash on Thursday afternoon with China’s Yuan Sijun, who top scored with 135 in a 6-5 win over Alexander Ursenbacher. All winners on Wednesday and Thursday will go through to the final stages in York, which start on Saturday.

“Chris has been playing well so I was just delighted to be keeping pace with him,” said 1997 World Champion Doherty. “I made some good breaks. I’m as surprised as anyone! It would be fantastic to walk down those stairs at the Barbican, but this game is difficult and the last round here will be tough. I’m still a competitor and I love that side of the game.”

Stephen Maguire, the 2004 UK Champion, showed signs of a return to form in reaching the quarter-finals of the recent International Championship and he rattled in breaks of 124, 75, 140, 77 and 115 in a 6-4 defeat of Ashley Hugill.

Hossein Vafaei fired runs of 133 and 109 as he whitewashed Martin O’Donnell 6-0. Stuart Bingham’s hopes of adding the UK title to his World and Masters crowns will have to wait another year as he lost 6-2 to David Lilley.

Matthew Selt outscored Dylan Emery 6-4 with runs of 84, 59, 127, 52, 95, and 73, while Anthony McGill outscored He Guoqiang 6-3 with 89. Zak Surety defeated Scottish Open champion Gary Wilson 6-3, while David Gilbert defeated Julien Leclercq 6-1 with a top break of 93.

Joe O’Connor defeated Oliver Lines 6-5 with a 68 clearance from 53-0 down in the deciding frame. Lukas Kleckers of Germany, who is having his best run in this event, led the way with 105 points as he defeated Ryan Day 6-2.