Tags:
Journalism of Courage
SHEFFIELD (ENGLAND), APRIL 19: Ireland’s Ken Doherty, last year’s beaten finalist, established a commanding 8-1 overnight lead in his first-round match against Steve James in the World Snooker Championship last evening.
A break of 137 was scant consolation for Englishman James, who was a semifinalist in 1991.
In other action, England’s Anthony Hamilton became the first seeded player to go out of the tournament, losing a marathon battle with Scotland’s Chris Small.
Leading 57-45 in the deciding frame, Hamilton missed the blue and Small potted the remaining three balls to edge through 10-9 in a game which lasted nearly seven-and-a-half hours.
Tony Drago of Malta also made it through to the second round, completing a 10-4 win over British Open champion Fergal O’Brien.
Earlier in the day, Nigel Bond completed a 10-6 win over Welsh qualifier Dominic Dale.
Leading 8-1 overnight, Bond required just two frames to reach the second round.
But Dale did not give up without a fight, winning five out of sixframes with breaks of 69, 66 and 122 before Bond secured victory.
Bond, the runner-up four years ago, now faces the winner of the match between Doherty and James.
Elsewhere, former champion John Parrott of England led Northern Ireland’s Terry Murphy 6-5.
