O'Sullivan scrapes past Doherty

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Two-time Masters winner Ronnie O'Sullivan edged out Ken Doherty 6-5 to reach the semi-finals of this year's tournament at Wembley.

The Irishman looked set for victory at 5-4 but suffered a bad kick and O'Sullivan snatched the frame before taking the decider with a 115 break.

O'Sullivan now plays Stephen Maguire, who beat Australian Neil Robertson 6-2.

Robertson won the first frame with a 126 break but Scot Maguire rattled off the next five frames to take control.

It is O'Sullivan's first tournament since walking out of last month's UK Championship in the middle of his match against Stephen Hendry.

The former world champion did not make any comment following the win after being given special dispensation by World Snooker, the sport's governing body, not to fulfil his media commitments this week.

It's horrible to get a kick at such an important stage because I was on top of the match Ken Doherty

An understandably disappointed Doherty said: "I got an horrendous kick, which cost me the match without a shadow of a doubt.

"It's horrible to get a kick at such an important stage because I was on top of the match.

"For that to happen is hard to take. It's just part and parcel of the game, but it's hard to take at the time.

"These things happen at the worst possible moment - and that was it."

Doherty, who had match breaks of 52, 42, 74, 49, 84 and 81, also had a chance in the final frame but missed a red into the corner when the balls were well placed.

However the Irishman was still happy with his performance.

"I felt great out there," he said.

I'm going to have to improve on thatperformance if I'm going to reach the final Stephen Maguire

"It was a really great match to be involved in. I think the match had everything.

"It had good safety, good potting and good breaks as well.

"He made a break in the last frame which was so nonchalant, especially because it was at such a pressurised time in the match."

Maguire, who earlier this week knocked out defending champion John Higgins, was delighted to continue his fine run of form against his good friend Robertson.

"It was a good match - it's just a pity one of us hadto get knocked out because we both play the game well and open the game up andgo for our long shots," he said.

"If we're both on form it's good to watch for the crowd. He beat MarkWilliams 6-0 in his first match, so he was hitting the ball well.

"I was hitting the ball well. But I'm going to have to improve on thatperformance if I'm going to reach the final - because I'm playing Ronnienext."