Liang Wenbo Sends Doherty Crashing Out

Ken Doherty became the third former Crucible winner to exit the World Championship at the first hurdle after losing 10-5 to China's Liang Wenbo.

The damage was mainly done in the first session when Liang, 21, knocked in six half centuries to take a 7-2 lead.

Doherty lost the first frame of the evening session, but took two of the next three to keep his faint hopes alive at 9-4 behind.

A nervy final frame saw both players miss chances before Liang sealed it.

Doherty follows former world champions Steve Davis and Graeme Dott in losing in the opening round in Sheffield.

The 38-year-old will now drop out of the top 16 in the world rankings for the first time in 15 years.

"It's hard to describe, it's very disappointing," said Doherty.

"I didn't play like I can and to drop out of the top 16 is the icing on the cake.

"I'm not afraid to go back to the qualifiers but it will be a lot tougher.

"There are players who have gone there and come back and my results will show I probably deserve to go out of the top 16.

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Frames Scores (O'Sullivan first): 76-32 (76) 99-0 (87) 66-47 0-107 (92) 52-60 59-68 69-63 (O'Sullivan 57, Liu 59) 24-63 (55) 57-40 74-26 (61) 89-4 54-62 (53 Liu) 65-20 (65) 84-14 (56) 70-59