Doherty trails to Fu after morning session
Dubliner Ken Doherty struggled against surprise package Marco Fu in the first session of their quarter-final today, going down 5-3 to the Hong Kong player.
Fu, who had to qualify for the Crucible, ousted Scottish duo Alan McManus and Stephen Maguire to reach the last eight and his fine cue-ball control was on show again.
Doherty, the 1997 champion, went into the match as hot favourite after his impressive 13-8 victory over Matthew Stevens yesterday and made the ideal start by winning the first two frames.
But then Fu found his rhythm and reeled off five in succession, completing the spree with a break of 121 that was his third century of the competition.
It meant the last frame of the session was vital for Doherty to avoid falling too far behind, and the Irishman responded by clinching it after Fu had missed the pink into a middle pocket.
On the other table, 2004 runner-up Graeme Dott opened a 5-3 advantage over Australia's Neil Robertson in a contest that featured plenty of mistakes from both men.
The Scot went 4-1 up thanks to a break of 73, but a 109 by the qualifier from Melbourne put him back within one frame before Dott secured the last of the session.
