Former world champion Ken Doherty will be aiming to continue his strong start to the new season when he faces Zhang Anda in the last 16 of the Riga Masters. The Irishman, now ranked 63rd in the world, has enjoyed impressive wins already this week over Gary Wilson (4-0) and Robin Hull (4-2). A winner of six ranking tournaments in his career, Doherty’s golden moment arrived 20 years ago when he defeated Stephen Hendry to win the world title at the Crucible. Now 48, ‘Crafty Ken’ last won a ranking tournament at the 2006 Malta Cup although the Dubliner did reach the last-32 stage of the 2016 German Masters and 2016 Welsh Open. With the likes of Neil Robertson have been knocked out in surprise fashion in Riga already, Doherty will see his chance for a potential run at the opening event of the new season.
Should Doherty progress, he could set up a potential roll-back-the-clock match with another veteran in Jimmy White after ‘The Whirlwind’ also navigated his path into the last 16. Standing between Doherty and the last eight is Zhang, who has claimed victories over Alex Borg and Hammad Miah already in Latvia. Zhang had to win the final three frames of his last clash and was aided by breaks of 51, 52 and 55 in claiming the four frames he needed. Doherty also won the final three frames to overcome Hull, the highlight being a fantastic 126 compilation that suggests he could pose problems for Zhang. His battling skills were also on display as Hull made 62 in the decisive sixth frame, only for Doherty to battle back and win.