Doherty puts Judge in the dock

Snooker : A stunning break of 140 has helped world number two Ken Doherty ease into a commanding lead over Michael Judge in …

Snooker: A stunning break of 140 has helped world number two Ken Doherty ease into a commanding lead over Michael Judge in the Irish Professional Championship final this afternoon.

Doherty's break, the highest of the tournament at the Spawell in Templeogue, came in the eighth and final frame of a first session which saw him open up a 6-2 lead over his fellow Dubliner.

Doherty, beaten in last year's final by Joe Swail, was slow to start, sharing the first four frames with Judge, but won the next four on the trot to move within three frames of the title. The evening session gets underway at 6.30pm.