Doherty has to take long route

Ireland's Ken Doherty, who missed out on a bye in the Irish Masters Snooker championship, will have to see off veteran Steve Davis if he is to face Ronnie O'Sullivan in the quarterfinals. The draw for the tournament, to be held from March 27th to April 1st in the Citywest Hotel, Dublin, took place yesterday.

Doherty is joined in the revamped competition, now sponsored by the Department of Health, by title-holder John Higgins and a number of other players ranked in the world's top eight including Mark Williams, Stephen Lee, Matthew Stevens, Alan McManus and Stephen Hendry.

Dublin's Fergal O'Brien, currently ranked ninth in the world and showing good form after reaching the final of the Wembley Masters, is one of four wild cards along with Peter Ebdon, Davis and Jimmy White.

The opening match will see White facing world number eight McManus in the afternoon session with O'Brien following up against Stevens, who is ranked fifth in the world. The reward for an O'Brien win will be a quarter-final meeting with current world champion and world number one Williams with either White or McManus guaranteed a place against Hendry.

Crowd favourite White reiterated what all the players had been saying when they arrived in Dublin two weeks ago for the tournament launch.

"When you have a line-up like this there will be no easy match for any player. I'm delighted to be playing well again and hope to bring my good form to Ireland," he said.

Welshman Williams is hoping to move away from his traditionally poor Irish performances.

"I have a dismal record in this tournament but hopefully I can change that this year - new sponsors, new venue and hopefully a better result for me," he said.

The players should arrive in Dublin without the stress of court action hanging over them. Last week Hendry and Williams sought an injunction against the World Snooker Association (WSA) from placing undue pressure on players to sign for the WSA tour next season.

The action arrived after the WSA gave players just 10 days to chose between their tour or the alternative world tour set up by rival organisers TSN.

After hearing arguments in a London court, Mr Justice Lloyd agreed with counsel for TSN that a trial date for the hearing should take place on May 8th, after this year's World Championships at the Crucible.

Schedule: Tuesday, March 27th - (1st round, best of 11 frames) 2 p.m. J White v A McManus; 7.15 p.m. F O'Brien v M Stevens; Wednesday, 28th - 2 p.m. K Doherty v S Davis; 7.15 p.m. P Ebdon v S Lee; Thursday, 29th (quarter-final, best 11 frames) 2 p.m. M Williams v O'Brien/Stevens; 7.15 p.m. S Hendry v White/McManus; Friday, 30th - 2 p.m. J Higgins v Ebdon/Lee; 7.15 p.m. R O'Sullivan v Doherty/Davis; Saturday, 31st - semi-finals (best of 11 frames) 2 p.m. and 7.15 p.m.; Sunday, April 1st - final (best of 17 frames) 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. For information phone: 1850 747 147.