IRELAND'S Ken Doherty made his exit in the third round of the Bournemouth Grand Prix last night when he went under to Tony Drago of Malta 5-3. Doherty won the first two frames comfortably but Drago took the next four before the Irishman got one back but Drago then clinched the contest in winning the eighth, 67-29.
Drago dismissed talk of a quarter final hoodoo after reaching the last eight of a ranking tournament for the ninth time. The Maltese star now meets Steve Davis or Welshman Mark Bennett.
London based Drago has lost all eight quarter finals, including one last month when Brian Morgan put the break on his attacking policy during the Asian Classic in Thailand. "If I lose again there is always another match," said the philosophical world number 15.
Drago, able to draw confidence from a couple of recent wins over Doherty, made a poor start as breaks of 51 and 43 gave the world number seven from Dublin a 2-0 lead.
However, the 31 year old from Valletta refused to curb his all out attack as in the next 47 minutes Drago captured four frames without reply which included breaks of 89, 70 and 54 to go 4-2 up.
His Mediterranean temperament often causes him unnecessary anxiety in sight of the finishing line and he stumbled briefly as Docherty rallied with a break of 86 to take frame seven. The eighth frame was equally tense for Drago but he eventually amassed 67 points to send him through to the next round.
"I am very pleased with the way I potted those last few balls, confirmed Drago, now guaranteed £9,100.
Docherty admitted: "Tony may miss plenty of balls but he can also pot a lot. With a number of the leading players already having gone out, Tony is not a total outsider to win the title."
Doherty's fellow Dubliner Fergal O'Brien lost a great opportunity to progress to the last 16 when Anthony Hamilton staged an admirable comeback. The Nottingham professional beat O'Brien 5-4 after being 3-1 and 4-2 down.
"I like to give people value for money, but if I have any more, close shaves I will drive myself insane," said the world number 22, who now meets Scotsman Euan Henderson for a place in the quarter finals.
"It was a match of two halves. Fergal played so well to go 3-1 up and could easily have won 5-1. However, after the interval he began to play like I had done earlier and when you win a couple of frames to get back in the match you always feel, you, are in with a great opportunity.
Hamilton levelled at 4-4 with a break of 63 and eventually sealed a marathon four hour, six minute victory by potting the blue to secure the 44 minute deciding frame.
