Below-par Hendry wins comfortably

Snooker

Snooker

Stephen Hendry claimed his place in the semi-finals of the Royal Liver Assurance UK Championship yesterday and then said he had become a victim of his own success.

For the first time in four outings at Preston's Guild Hall, the five- times world champion did not record a single century break on his way to victory.

"I have set myself such high standards that everyone expects me to knock in centuries all the time," he said following his 9-3 win over Ken Doherty.

Hendry, who meets fellow Scot John Higgins or Welsh stablemate Mark Williams tomorrow for a place in Sunday's final, began the day 6-2 up.

Doherty won the first frame of the day and had a chance to win the next but missed a tricky red and Hendry's break of 40 proved decisive and he finished the match off with breaks of 74 and 59 in the next two frames.