Doherty plays Hendry for last four spot

Stephen Hendry won his all-Scottish clash with Alan McManus in the Daily Record Players Championship last night.

Stephen Hendry won his all-Scottish clash with Alan McManus in the Daily Record Players Championship last night.

The seven-times world champion came from 2-0 down to beat his opponent 5-2 to reach the last eight.

"That's the type of match I normally lose," said Hendry, unbeaten against his former World Cup team-mate now for four years.

"It was hard work but I got there in the end. I've got a pretty good record against Alan in the last few years. But I know how tough a competitor Alan can be. And at 2-0 down it didn't look very good."

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Hendry now plays Ireland's Ken Doherty for a place in the last four.

Doherty has not won a title for two years but is running into form at exactly the right time.

He began his 5-2 victory over Joe Perry with a brilliant 145 clearance. It was the Dubliner's highest ever break and should wrap up a £5,000 high break prize.

Perry levelled at 1-1 but was 4-1 down before he gained his only other success.

"Breaks like that only win you one frame but it was still nice," said Doherty.

"I'm playing 100 per cent better than I did a couple of months ago. I'm getting more and more confident.

"I feel a lot better when I'm in among the balls and my next match with Stephen should be a cracker.

"We've had some good battles over the years," added the 1997 world champion from Dublin.