Doherty off to slow start to trail McManus by two

SnookerKen Doherty trails Alan McManus 5-3 going into today's second session of their last-16 encounter at the World Championships at Sheffield after narrowly losing the last of yesterday's eight frames.

The Scot won four of the first five frames, and made consecutive centuries of 104 and 103 to streak ahead.

But 1997 champion Doherty mustered his famous fighting spirit to take the next two which included a break of 59 and move just one behind.

Doherty needed a snooker to have a chance of levelling in frame eight, but McManus potted the brown to thwart him.

Seven-time former champion Stephen Hendry thrashed Anthony Hamilton 13-3 with a session to spare to book his place in this year's quarter-finals yesterday.

Despite the margin of victory, Hendry said he had struggled to find his best form.

"In patches I felt good, but when the score goes to 9-2 and 10-2 it's very difficult to stay focused," said the 36-year-old Scot.

"It's nice to finish a session early. I now have a few days to work on the practice table and get back to the way I was cueing before the tournament."

Meanwhile, the game's officials have decided the World Championship will stay at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield for the next five years.

Sheffield has staged the tournament since 1977, but had to bid against other British cities, including Liverpool and Birmingham, to retain it.

The Crucible's facilities will be refurbished, although the seating capacity is expected to remain at its current level.