Snooker: Hendry has to fight

STEPHEN HENDRY, the defending champion, set up an all-Scottish semi-final with Alan McManus in the Dubai Classic last night. The world No 1 withstood a fightback from Ireland's Ken Doherty for a 5-4 win and a meeting today with McManus, who had earlier beaten England's Nigel Bond by the same margin.

It was sweet revenge for Hendry, who lost 9-7 a fortnight ago to Doherty in the final of the Regal Masters. After Doherty had led 1-0 with a break of 93, Hendry cleared the colours to win the second frame and went on to lead 4-1 with breaks of 88, 90 and 76.

But Doherty was not finished. He recorded a break of 127 in the sixth frame and then forced the decider.

It was a tense affair, in which Doherty began with a break of 42. Hendry replied with 37 and went 27 clear on the colours, only to miss the yellow. A re-spotted black looked a certainty when Doherty went back to the table. But, after potting the yellow, he missed the green.

DUBAI CLASSIC Quarter-finals: A McManus (Sco) bt N Bond (Eng) 5-4; S Hendry (Sco) bt K Doherty (Irl) 5-4.