Doherty and Wattana make winning start at World Seniors Championship

The 1997 world champion Ken Doherty booked his place in the last eight of the World Seniors Championship with a 3-1 win over Australia’s Tyson Crinis at the Crucible.

The Dubliner lost the first frame but won the next three at the Sheffield venue – edging the third frame on the black ball – before finishing with a 68 break to secure a meeting with Darren Morgan or Dechawat Poomjaeng on Friday afternoon.

He was joined in the quarter-finals by three-time ranking event winner James Wattana, who completed a 3-2 victory over Rodney Goggins after the Irishman levelled at 2-2 boosted by a 68 knock in the third frame.

Wattana won the decider with a 55 to set up a last-eight encounter with 1986 world champion Joe Johnson or Norwich cueman Barry Pinches in the last of the quarter-finals on Friday evening.

But there was no victory for former world No. 2 Tony Knowles, who lost 3-0 to seniors world No. 1 Stuart Watson in the first round on Wednesday evening.

Four-time champion Jimmy ‘Whirlwind’ White begins his title defence against Andrew Norman on Thursday afternoon.

White claimed the title last year with a 5-3 victory over Alfie Burden.