Allen puts 'gutted' Doherty to the sword

SNOOKER: World ChampionshipMark Allen, the 21-year-old Northern Ireland left-hander, in only his second professional season, yesterday created the first major shock of the World Championship in Sheffield by defeating Ken Doherty, the world number two and the champion in 1997.

"I was really nervous today," said Allen, who saw his 6-3 overnight lead wiped out before winning 10-7. "Being 6-3 up was a different sort of pressure and I didn't handle it very well, but luckily Ken gave me an opening when I really needed it."

Antrim-based Allen missed black from its spot in prime position in each of the first three frames of the day. Doherty won them all to make it 6-6 only for a failed red to a middle pocket to present Allen with his chance for the 76 break with which he regained the lead.

Doherty equalised at 7-7 with a 135 total clearance, at which stage, said Allen, he knew he "had to cut out silly mistakes". "When Ken made that break it really focused me," he added.

With breaks of 68 and 41 Allen again went ahead, 8-7, and opened the scoring with 54 in the next.

Doherty's reply foundered on 43 to allow Allen to go two up with three to play, and with 50 as his main contribution, the Crucible debutant claimed the clinching frame.

Allen was quick to praise his support team, in particular Terry Griffiths, coach to the 110 sport management stable, and his partner of three years, Reanne Evans, the women's world champion. It was at the 2004 European amateur championships, which Allen won, that he met Evans. At the world amateur championships later that year, which he also won, they became an item.

A year ago Evans gave birth to their daughter six weeks after she won the second of her three world titles.

"I'd never have heard the last of it if I hadn't qualified," said Allen.

Doherty admitted the defeat was tough to accept. He said: "I'm gutted. I didn't play well, it's hard to swallow.

"I thought I did everything right with my preparations but he played superbly well. He was very hard to contain and I did not play as well as I can."

Stephen Hendry was given an early wake-up call when trailing 5-1 to Dave Gilbert, a 500 to 1 outsider from Tamworth. But the seven-times champion raised his game and goes into this morning's final session only 5-4 down.

It would not be strictly accurate to say Gilbert has not pulled up any trees in his six-year professional career as he has worked for the forestry commission to supplement his meagre earnings from the circuit, but with a number-75 ranking he had not previously played in a televised game. Had he not qualified for a Crucible debut he would have been planting potatoes under the auspices of his father's land management company.

Hendry's 51 break as he took the opening frame offered no hint of the tale of the unexpected that followed, but it was not long before some observers were questioning the wisdom of his decision to change cues less than a month before the championship.

With 34 as his highest break, Gilbert won four undistinguished frames in succession before settling to the nicely controlled 100 to go 5-1 ahead.

It was vital for Hendry to respond and breaks of 68 and 76 helped him run away with the remaining three frames of the day.

World number nine Stephen Maguire stormed to a resounding 10-3 over Joe Perry. A deflated Perry admitted the damage had been done in Tuesday's opening session, where Maguire took a 7-2 lead.

Waiting for Maguire in the next round will be Joe Swail from Northern Ireland, who beat forer world champion Mark Williams 10-9 late last night.