Ken Doherty trashes Shaun Murphy in first round of 2012 Wuxi Classic snooker tournament
Former World Snooker Championship winner from Ireland, Ken Doherty played impressively against the Chinese Wild Card entrant Lu Ning in the WC round of 2012 Wuxi Classic. The clash was expected to be one-sided affair but it did not go up to expectations
as the Chinese cueman showed great determination.
The match-up was a tussling encounter as both potters were very competitive from the beginning and dragged the match into the decisive frame. Doherty triumphed over Ning to win the match by the score line of 5-4 and set up first round clash against former
World Snooker Championship winner from England, Shaun Murphy.
The Doherty-Murphy clash was an easy win for the Irishman despite the fact that it was not expected to end this way. Both Doherty and Murphy were in good form in the previous season. However, Doherty did not let his opponent do any damage and ousted him
by the score line of 5-1.
While speaking to World Snooker, Doherty said, “I played pretty well, pretty solid. I played some good safety and I made a couple of good clearances. To go 4-1 up and particularly in the last frame to get the last couple of reds, it's nice to clear up when
there's a bit of pressure on you.”
The former champ added, “That's sometimes the difference winning and losing, being able to make those breaks when you need it, and I did that today. He's a top player, Shaun Murphy, so you have to be on the top of your game to beat him.”
The first session of the match ended in Doherty’s favour as he led the game by the score line of 3-1. Murphy could win only one frame in the opening session while Doherty totally unsettled him to grab an early lead. After the interval, the Magician failed
to find his momentum and tumbled down in front of the Irish potter who clinched two more frames to ensure his victory.
Doherty will next meet the winner of first round match between the former World Snooker Champion Peter Ebdon and the winner of the 2011 Australian Goldfields Open Stuart Bingham in the second round.
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