Matthew Stevens ends Stephen Hendry hopes in Northern Ireland Open snooker qualifying, Ken Doherty sparkles

ByEurosport

Published 18/10/2023 at 22:32 GMT

Matthew Stevens came out on top against Stephen Hendry in a battle of the snooker icons with a 4-2 win in the first round of the Northern Ireland Open. The Welshman edged Hendry 10-8 in the final of the 2003 UK Championship and booked a trip to Belfast for the final stages of the event 20 years later. There were also wins for Ken Doherty and Mark Davis at Ponds Forge in Sheffield.

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Stephen Hendry hit two 50-plus breaks against Matthew Stevens in Northern Ireland Open qualifying in Sheffield, but it was not enough to prevent a 4-2 defeat in the opening round of the Home Nations Series ranking event.

Seven-time world champion Hendry led 2-1, but lost the fourth frame on a re-spotted black after going in-off with former Masters champion Stevens claiming the final two frames to book his spot in the last 64 and a trip to Belfast next week.

Stevens memorably edged Hendry 10-8 in the final of the UK Championship 20 years ago and will meet David Gilbert or Joel Connolly in the second round at the Waterfront Hall with the tournament live on Eurosport and discovery+ between October 22-29.

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1997 world champion Ken Doherty produced some vintage form to book his spot in the last 64 with a 4-3 win against Liam Highfield that saw the evergreen Irishman finish with classy breaks of 135 and 65.

There were also wins for former Welsh Open winner Jordan Brown in a 4-2 success against Stuart Carrington, while Mark Davis rolled in a 100 and 86 to overpower Scott Donaldson 4-0.

Mark Allen is the defending Northern Ireland Open champion and begins his quest for a third straight victory at the tournament against Ben Mertens on Monday.