KEN DOHERTY IS one win away from a return to the World Snooker Championship — but he will be the underdog in his final qualifier against world number 20 Ryan Day.
Doherty, who failed to qualify for the Crucible last season, had to weather a comeback by Hossein Vafaei Ayouri on Monday.
The Dubliner racked up an early 7-2 lead but was pegged back to 8-6 by his Iranian opponent before eventually prevailing 10-7.
“Hossein made me sweat a little today but delighted to clear up in the last and get thru to the next round,” he tweeted.
Day needed a comeback of his own to progress, reeling off the final five frames to come from 9-5 down against Alfie Burden and clinch a thrilling decider.
The main draw at the Crucible begins on Saturday.
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