Doherty - stirring revival.
DOHERTY GRABS AMAZING VICTORY
By John Curtis, PA Sport
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Ken Doherty produced one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the
Embassy World Championship to overcome Paul Hunter 17-16 and reach his third
final after an afternoon of high drama at The Crucible Theatre.
Hunter needed only two frames to set up his first attempt at capturing
snooker's most coveted crown as he led 15-9 going into the last of four
sessions.
But suddenly the nerves grabbed hold of the Yorkshireman who has looked so
relaxed and composed throughout the previous fortnight and he began to miss even
the most straightforward of opportunities.
Doherty is also one of the game's most durable characters and he had shown his
mettle by overcoming Shaun Murphy (10-9) and Graham Dott (13-12) in last frame
deciders earlier in the tournament.
Now he demonstrated nerves of steel as Hunter wilted in winning six frames out
of seven to cut his leeway to 16-15 in the best of 33 marathon.
The snooker was not always of the highest quality as chances went begging but
it was never anything less than gripping for an enthralled full house in
Sheffield.
It brought back memories of other Crucible comebacks including Dennis Taylor's
1985 triumph over Steve Davis from 8-0 down and Mark Williams' 2000 triumph over
Matthew Stevens from 13-7 in arrears.
Hunter will be devastated after playing so well in a tournament where he had
previously managed just one victory in four visits and it will be a massive
examination of his character to see how he responds to this disappointment.
But it is Doherty who will have a crack at Mark Williams in the final.
The hard work looked to have been done by Hunter, whose sporting hero is David
Beckham, in the opening three sessions.
But Doherty made a positive start with an impressive run of 73 taking his
frame tally into double figures.
And it was the same scenario in the next as Hunter broke down when leading
19-1 and Doherty steped in with a clearance of 94.
Hunter had a golden chance to clinch frame 27 when he led 62-36 but he missed
the final black and Doherty cleared up to win by one point.
Then it became four frames in a row for Doherty after Hunter, ahead by 52-0,
snookered himself on all the colours after potting a red.
It gave Doherty a life-line and again he held himself together with a superb
60 clearance including a difficult brown.
Hunter was also favourite in frame 29 but he left the final red over the
pocket and Doherty's 25 to the black put him just one behind at 15-14.
The tension was unbearable and the next frame spanned nearly half an hour with
a succession of unforced errors before Hunter finally opened his account for the
day by taking brown to pink.
Frame 31 was past the 35 minute mark before Doherty fluked the final blue to
leave Hunter needing a snooker which he failed to obtain as the deficit was
again brought back to one.
It became 16-16 and a one frame shoot-out when a 42 from Doherty again left
Hunter needing snookers and he conceded after one failed attempt.
Hunter was first amongst the balls but broke down on only six after failing to
put away a straightforward red.
Doherty responded with 40 but was then forced to play safe after having
nothing left on when he split the pack.
The Dubliner was given another opportunity after Hunter had left a red over
the black left pocket and a break of 32 left his opponent needing two snookers -
and shortly afterwards he conceded.
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