Ken Doherty falls at UK Championship final round qualifier

Ken Doherty's bid to reach the UK Championship for the first time in five years was ended after losing the final round qualifier to China’s Yuan Sijun 6-3.

The 54-year-old arrived into the contest having defeated Chris Wakelin, a finalist of the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast last month, and made a bright start on 'Judgement Day’ to take a 2-1 lead.

The 1997 world champion, who has reached the final of the UK Championship on three occasions, couldn’t halt Sijun's charge, as the Dubliner's opponent reeled off the next four frames.

Doherty pulled one back, but the Chinese player, 31 years Doherty's junior, was in fine scoring form with breaks of 135, 102 and 121.

He took the last frame to seal a 6-3 victory and book his place in the main draw.

Doherty had seen off Duane Jones in his second round qualifier before ending the interest of in-form Wakelin yesterday.