Ken Doherty survives tussling game against Lu Ning in Wild Card round of 2012 Wuxi Classic
Chinese snooker fans have witnessed some outstanding clashes at the Wuxi Sports Center in Wuxi, China where top guns of the game barely managed to save their berth in the 2012 Wuxi Classic snooker event.
One of the favourites to clinch the event, the former World Snooker Championship winner, Australia’s Neil Robertson faced a brutal defeat at the hands of Scotland’s Jamie Burnett.
Former World Snooker Championship winner, Ireland’s Ken Doherty was placed in the Wild Card round of the tournament against China’s Lu Ning who gave a real tough time to the veteran potter. Ning was at the brink to claim the victory but Doherty managed to
keep his good form intact and defeated him by the score line of 5-4 to book his place in the opening round of the tournament.
The clash was not expected to be a tough one as Doherty was up against a rookie. However, that player proved to be a real surprise for the Irishman in the end as he had to come up with something superb to oust his Chinese opponent. The first session of the
game was totally dominated by the Chinese potter while the veteran potter bounced back into the game in second session and claimed the win.
While speaking to World Snooker, Doherty said, “That was a tough battle. I'd not seen Lu Ning before and I thought he was very good, very composed. I think all the wildcards are now. When I first came to China 15-16 years ago most of the wildcards were easy
matches, but now they are all very accomplished players.”
The former champ added, “They're good enough to be on the tour itself and Lu Ning is another example of that.”
The Chinese potter fired some outstanding breaks in the first session of the match and nudged his opponent 4-2 down. Doherty was under immense pressure because he was about to crash out of the game. However, he sprang back brilliantly and claimed the last
three frames to win the match. He will be facing the former World Snooker Champion from England, Shaun Murphy in the initial round of the event.
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