2014 World Championship (Day 2) - Doherty rolls back the years

Kenny - the happy bunny

Our second day at the Crucible has been full of surprises and thrilling matches, one of the biggest ones being the fact that "The Darling of Dublin", the man who conquered the world title in 1997, the one who's called the "pride of Ireland", Ken Doherty managed to beat Stuart Bingham by an incredible 10-5 scoreline.

Ken hasn't won a Crucible match since 2006, which makes this victory even more important, added to the fact that the Irishman won no less than six consecutive frames during the second session, to cross the finish line.

As we all know, the lads landed on a 5-4 scoreline after their first snooker encounter, Bingham having a slightest advantage and a better cue action. But things changed dramatically today, when the boys returned into the arena.

Bingham must put his Crucible dream on hold this year

One very happy chap, Ken entered on a traditional Irish song, clapping his hands like he was anticipating what was coming next.

Although the cues-battle had a very, very scrappy start, Ken managed to win the first frame and add a 55 break in order to take the lead for the first time in the match, at 6-5.

Runs of 60, 42, 37, 37 and 57 were helping him go just one away from victory, an out-of-sorts Bingham struggling to barely pot some balls.

The victory was completed by a 60 break and a heart-felt hand shake from Stu, who unfortunately had to end his Crucible run in the very first round.

Punching the air

An over-the-moon Doherty punched the air, showing to the entire planet how much does it mean to win in the home of snooker. Meanwhile, the online community was making sure he was trending on Twitter UK.

Also ending their snooker love affair were the Captain Ali Carter and the Crucible-debutant Xiao Guodong (5-4), who continued their match on a very close, though not very exciting note.

Xiao took initiative from the very first frame (aka. the 10^th one actually) and drew level, going even further and putting his nose in front at 6-5.

Captain Carter flies over Xiao right in the second round

However, the Captain had other plans and with a bit of help from breaks like 81 and 55 he turned the scoreline into his favour, at 7-6.

Xiao fought back and levelled up once more, but Carter stood his ground and regained control of the match quickly enough.

One more try was made by the merciful Chinese player, whose magnificent clearance of 69 points was bringing the balance on the scoreboard at 8-8, before Carter could wrap up the match by hitting a top break of 80, for a final and decisive 10-8 scoreline.

Stephen Maguire and Ryan Day had one of the most thrilling matches ever, especially since they've started (or better, re-started) their cues-crossing with Day having a dangerous 6-3 lead over the Scot.

Maguire's fire ignited a bit too late

Maguire had a poor start, but managed to pull back a frame as the second session kicked off, in response Day conquering no less than two consecutive frames, by using breaks of 35 and 69.

Thanks to a 56 break and a marvellous clearance of 134 Maguire was proving to the entire world that the fire within is still burning, thus reducing the gap at 8-6.

But when Day hit a strategic 60 break to go just one away from victory, Maguire unleashed his fury and started his comeback. Breaks of 58, 73 and 91 proved quite enough to level the scoreline and set the very first decider of this year's World Championship.

Day gets the best of the first decider

The last frame was pure thrill, both players having early chances to start building their road towards the finish line, but in the end it was Ryan Day and his great clearance of 92 that closed the snooker deal.

And once again, the snooker fans worked in their mysterious ways and made Ryan Day trend on Twitter. Snooker's getting quite popular, I must say.

At the near table, a similar situation was underway. Shaun "The Magician" Murphy and the very cool-as-cat Jamie Cope were disputing their second session, with Cope holding a tiny but important advantage of 5-4.

The Smurf is through the next round

Following the same pattern, Murphy took the 10^th frame with a great 75 clearance, Cope taking the next two, with runs of 44 and 32, for a 7-6 lead.

Murphy fought back and grabbed the following two frames, with a bit of help from breaks like 67 and 52, to draw level before his opponent put his nose back in front, this time at 8-7.

One again Murphy caught up with him, only that this time he also moved pass him after firing a 58 break.
I must say that he had a huge chance to end the match and avoid a painful decider, but he missed a red with the rest, Cope managing to close the gap and force the decider.

Things got very scrappy and although Cope seemed to be the most composed and cool player of the two, Murphy's experience with major tournaments and great venues, had its saying, the Magician crossing the winning-line with just a top break of 29, for a final and well-deserved 10-9 scoreline.

Jamie couldn't cope with the pressure

Ding Junhui meet with the Crucible-debutant Michael Wasley, their first session ending on a 6-3 result in favour of the Chinese player, while Jamie Burnett obtained the same scoreline by playing Joe Perry.

Things went pretty smooth between Ding and Michael, the interval finding the lads all square at two apiece, but after it Ding started hitting the ball and with runs of 136 and 65 he took charge of the match's faith with a 6-3 scoreline.

Played on the same note, Jamie and Joe went hand in hand up until 2-2 and then 3-3, afterwards Burnett firing in breaks of 61, 32 and 94 for a 6-3 considerable lead.

Monday's full schedule:

10am
Joe Perry 3-6 Jamie Burnett (the winner will play Ronnie O'Sullivan)
Mark Selby v. Michael White

2.30 pm
Ding Junhui 6-3 Michael Wasley
John Higgins v. Alan McManus

7pm
Ricky Walden v. Kyren Wilson
Mark Selby v. Michael White (the winner will play Ali Carter)