Ken Doherty falls to defeat against Artemijs Zizins at Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters after controversial ball replacement - 'Is the pink close enough?'
Published 10/08/2025 at 00:00 GMT+1
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Ken Doherty came out on the wrong end of a narrow 4-3 scoreline, as Artemijs Zizins secured victory in the second round of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters. The match ended in disappointing fashion for Doherty, as he had Zizins in trouble but the youngster fluked a safety from and escape and was able to fall over the line to book a meeting with David Gilbert.
Doherty falls to defeat after controversial ball replacement
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ken Doherty’s Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters challenge came to an end in controversial circumstances at the hands of Artemijs Zizins.
The match was in the balance at 3-3, with Zizins leading by 22 points with one red on the table.
Zizins lost position when attempting to get on the final red and found himself behind the pink.
The Latvian connected with the pink when attempting to hit the red, but was fortunate to see the red go safe.
Doherty assessed the table and elected to have the balls replaced. It took some time for the balls to be put back, with the veteran Irishman questioning the position of the red and pink.
At one point, Doherty asked "is the pink close enough?" To which the referee responded "yes".
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After being given back the table, Zizins considered his options for some time before getting down to play the shot a second time, and on this occasion he made full contact with the red - almost potting it and then having the added fortune of seeing it fall safe.
From that moment on, Doherty was on the back foot and unable to wrestle the advantage back.
He went in-off to hand Zizins a shot at the final red, which he knocked into the green pocket and victory was wrapped up a short while later when the youngster knocked in the yellow to the left middle to set up a meeting with David Gilbert in round three.
It was a disappointing end for 1997 world champion Doherty, who rolled back the years with a win over fellow veteran Jimmy White in round one.
After beating White, Doherty said "I absolutely still get the adrenaline. And that is what keeps you going.
"I’m sure it’s the same for Jimmy. Even after all these years, no matter where you’ve played and all the competitions that you’ve played in, you still get that adrenaline buzz.
"You want to keep coming back and playing. It never leaves you."
Doherty will be back on the horse in qualifying for the Xi’an Grand Prix at the start of September.
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