Ken Doherty bowed out of the World Championship in Sheffield yesterday when he was beaten in the final frame of a top-quality quarter-final by Stephen Hendry.

Seven-time winner Hendry, who will play Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semi-finals today, capped a fantastic display with a well constructed break of 91 for a 13-12 success.

Doherty and Hendry were level 8-8 after the first two sessions on Tuesday and they carried on where they left off yesterday, although it was Doherty who clinched the opener with a break of 67.

Hendry responded with a superb break of a 132 before Doherty regained the initiative by winning the 19th frame.

In a real see-saw encounter, Hendry rattled in a 134 break before attempting to double the black.

However, the pattern continued as Doherty moved into a 11-10 lead with yet another century break.

The match had reached a crucial stage and Hendry used all his experience to edge a tight 22nd frame.

The Scotsman followed up with a frame-winning 55, but Doherty showed coolness under pressure to take it to a decider. However, Hendry finished off in style.

Hendry said: "I will always play the same way and go for it in the deciding frame. It would break my heart to lose by playing a safety shot."

Doherty said: "It was a brilliant game to be involved in as we were both knocking in good breaks. But he made a fantastic break in the last from nothing really. He got a great red and black.

"I was just disappointed that I never got a chance in the last frame to have a go myself, and that's always a bitter pill to swallow.

"I think the turning point was probably when I was 11-10 and maybe should have gone 12-10.

"But I thought I was going to win, I really did. I felt up for it and was really enjoying it, even though he was banging in a lot of big breaks.

"In a match like that there has to be a winner and there has to be a loser, that's just the way sport is. It's just a pity it had to me."

Doherty believes Hendry can go on to win his eighth world title: "I think if he plays like that he can win. He doesn't have to fear anyone."

Earlier yesterday, Matthew Stevens wrapped up a 13-7 win over John Higgins to book his place in the semi-finals. The world number six had established a 10-6 advantage on Tuesday night after a superb session.

Stevens made the perfect start yesterday when he clinched the opening two frames with impressive breaks of 71 and 72.

Higgins opened the third frame of the session with a 41 break and eventually cleared to the pink to reduce the deficit. But Stevens clinched victory with a break of 80.

In the semi-finals, Stevens will play Peter Ebdon who wrapped up a routine 13-6 win over Anthony Hamilton last night. Ebdon won the opening frame of the session with breaks of 30 and 56. Hamilton responded with a frame-winning 69 but it was Ebdon who prevailed in the 19th frame to clinch victory.

Ronnie O'Sullivan was given a tough match by Stephen Lee before eventually winning 13-10. O'Sullivan was not at his vintage best but significantly he finished strongly with breaks of 83, 103 and 113 to win the final three frames.