KEN DOHERTY secured his place in the last 16 of the Embassy World championship at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, last night with a 10-5 victory over former practice partner Nick Terry.
Doherty, who had to beat Terry to keep in touch with a top eight ranking next season, suffered a torrid time during an eight frame opening session at the end of which he trailed 5-3.
But if Terry, ranked 46th and making his Crucible debut, expected further successes when play resumed, Doherty had other ideas and in 77 minutes, a four frame winning sequence had taken him 7-5 in front.
It was a complete transformation of the earlier play in which Doherty squandered his chances and Terry, a 28 year old from Ilford, took his. Breaks of 56, 48, 76 and 50 and 44 helped Terry to seize the initiative against the hesitant Dubliner who at least won a vital eighth frame with a clearance to the pink of 34.
While Doherty had yet to step into his heavy scoring form, his experience of dealing with Crucible pressure was too much for Terry who suddenly started missing easy balls.
There were no high breaks leading up to the interval, but Doherty still went two clear helped by breaks of 42, 36 and 34. Then, to lead 8-5, he compiled a break of 75. Doherty went on to complete a seven frame winning sequence with a break of 57.
But he admitted afterwards he was a bit nervous: "I was a bit edgy during the opening session and that was no doubt due to losing in the first round a year ago.
"That was frightening. People don't always realise there are a lot of good players among the qualifiers. They might not recognise them, but I can tell you there are no Joe Soaps about at this stage of the championship."
Alan McManus chalked up a first round victory over Mick Price - and then ruled himself out as a contender for the title. The World number six from Glasgow took his place in the last 16 with a 10-5 win, but the scoreline flattered the Scotsman.
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