Doherty's 'safety' stuns Higgins

World number five Higgins had been in fine form yesterday at the Newport Centre, beating Gareth Allen 4-1 with breaks of 120, 99 and 97, but could not replicate that display against his fellow former world champion. Doherty took the first two frames but Higgins won a tense third, clearing from the green to settle a low-scoring and closely-fought frame.

Doherty needed several attempts to wrap up the next frame, but finally did so by potting the final brown to move within one frame of victory.

"It was a war of attrition, there was a lot of good safety," said Doherty, who won this competition in 1993 and 2001 and triumphed at the Crucible in 1997. "You have to match John in every department and I beat him with my safety game today."