KEN DOHERTY defeated Alain Robidoux 9-3 last night to become the first player to reach the semi-finals of the UK Championship in Preston.
Doherty, who won six frames in a row and is guaranteed £18,500. said: "It wasn't pretty for the spectators to watch, but I'm just delighted to have got through. Alain is a tough nut to crack and never makes it easy for you."
It was Doherty's first victory over the provisional world number 11 alter two defeats early in his career. "I've gained a lot more experience since then and a few more wrinkles," said Doherty, who next meets in-form Welshman Mark Williams or John Higgins of Scotland.
Doherty, a winner over six-times UK champion Steve Davis in the last round, said the scoreline was not a true reflection of the game. Indeed, Doherty cleared up to win at least four frames that Canadian Robidoux will feel aggrieved to have lost.
"Being 5-3 up at the interval was a bonus," said Doherty. I was able to relax when the second session started. I know it wasn't vintage stuff hut I am not complaining."
Leeds rookie Paul Hunter gave Stephen Hendry a fright last night by taking a 5-3 lead in their quarter-final. The 18-year-old Hunter, a 10 to 1 outsider for the title. produced a display far in advance of his tender years to outscore the 27-year-old world number one 568 points to 352.
Hendry tried all he knew to blast away last season's leading newcomer, but failed in a breathtaking session lasting just 100 minutes.
Both players compiled century breaks to boost the £380,000 tournament's total of tons to 48 - just one short of the record. Hunter's 118 to help him draw level at 1-1 was the highest of the contest and goes with the four he knocked in during a second-round success over James Wattana.
The players reached the mid-session interval all square at 2-2, with Hendry's 77 in frame three cancelled out by runs of 40 and 47 in the fourth. Hunter, who demolished Willie Thorne 9-0 in the opening round, rolled in another effort of 80 to seize the lead for the first time.
Hendry rose to the challenge to again obtain parity, but it was his last success as Hunter clinched the final two frames 93-0 and 61-51. Hendry should have secured an overnight 4-4 scoreline, but conceded a 47-0 lead in the eighth and eventually lost the frame as Hunter potted blue and pink.
A semi-finalist in last season's Welsh Open, Hunter requires just four more frames tonight to qualify for the last four of another ranking event.
Meanwhile, John Parrott's ninth UK championship quarter-final still has a long way to run on the evidence of yesterday's opening session against a determined Alan McManus.
The former title-holder and his Scottish rival divided the first eight frames with neither player managing to get more than one frame ahead in a three-hour session. It was hardly gripping stuff but with so much at stake that was perhaps understandable.
. The beleaguered board of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association has notified its membership that an unusual election procedure will be in force at its a.g.m. in Bristol on December 19th. The board consists of a maximum of seven members, of whom Geoff Foulds, Terry Griffiths, Jim Chankbers and Sindhu Pulsirivrong are eligible to serve for a further year.
Bill Oliver presents himself for re-election and there are five other candidates. Because the WPBSA operates a `yes' or `no' voting system, it is possible for no candidate to be elected. However, rather than present all candidates on one list the board has ruled that the a.g.m. will consider them singly in an order which the WPBSA state has been drawn by lot by its secretary, Mike Veal and its solicitor, Matthew McCloy.
The vote on Oliver is to be taken first and then in turn on Jim Meadowcroft, Tony Knowles, Bob Close, Malcolm Thorne and Rex Williams. "It's damn bad luck that Rex Williams who as everyone knows has my support and who is the biggest threat to the status quo, has been drawn last," said Ian Doyle, who controls the votes of the 11 players he manages in an electorate reduced to 48 by the resignation from the board and chairmanship of John Spencer.
. Ireland's Joe Canny plays his quarter-final match in the World amateur championship in New Zealand today. Canny has been drawn against English national champion, Stuart Bingham, who, like the Kildare man, lost just one of his group matches.
