British Open snooker: Stephen Hendry suffers qualifying defeat to Muhammad Asif, Si Jiahui and Ken Doherty progress

ByEurosport

Updated 15/08/2023 at 06:44 GMT

Stephen Hendry won the British Open four times between 1988 and 2003, but the seven-time world champion will take no further part in this year's tournament after losing 4-2 to Muhammad Asif in the first round of qualifying in Leicester on Monday. World Championship semi-finalist Si Jiahui had no such problems as he coasted past Lukas Kleckers of Germany in a 4-1 win.

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Four-time British Open champion Stephen Hendry suffered a 4-2 loss to Muhammad Asif in the first round of this year's tournament in Leicester.

In his first competitive match of the new season, the seven-time Crucible winner pocketed the opening frame with a break of 73, only to watch his opponent reel off the next three frames to move 3-1 clear.

Hendry edged the fifth frame to keep Monday's contest alive, but a closing knock of 66 was enough for Pakistan's world No. 81 to book his spot in the last 64 at the finals venue in Cheltenham next month.

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World Championship semi-final Si Jiahui produced a dominant performance in running out a 4-1 winner against Lukas Kleckers earlier in the day.

Si dropped the opening frame, but progressed thanks to breaks of 54 and 63.

Elsewhere, 1997 world champion Ken Doherty also advanced courtesy of a 4-2 win over Alfie Burden on Monday night with a 76 in the fourth frame the highlight of his performance.

Qualifying runs until Saturday at the city's Morningside Arena, before the world's top 16 play their opening matches at the finals venue in Cheltenham between September 25 and 1 October.

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In an FA Cup-style open draw, world champion Luca Brecel has landed Ding Junhui, while Mark Allen and Anthony McGill collide in another intriguing contest between two players inside the top 16.

World No. 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan – British Open champion in 1994 – was paired with former European Masters winner Jimmy Robertson.

The matches are the best of seven frames with the quarter-finals increasing to the best of nine, before two best-of-11 frame semi-finals and a best-of-19 frame final.