Doherty eases past Dale

Ken Doherty led 6-2 overnight against Dale

Ken Doherty maintained the 100% record of the world's top eight players at the UK Championship in York in beating Dominic Dale to reach the quarter-finals.

The Irishman's 9-3 victory on Tuesday meant all the leading eight players had filled their designated places.

John Higgins and Mark Williams were the last two to reach the quarter-final stage by completing third-round wins on Tuesday evening.

Dubliner Doherty led his Welsh opponent 6-2 overnight and although Dale won the first frame of Tuesday's concluding session, it proved his only success.

Doherty's three frames in succession booked a clash with Matthew Stevens in the last eight.

It got a bit scrappy towards the end but to get through is the most important thing

Ken Doherty

"We both played very well yesterday, Dominic must have been very frustrated to have made breaks of 81 and 140 and be 6-2 down," said world number four Doherty.

"He gave me a few chances today and all I had to do was take them.

"It got a bit scrappy towards the end but to get through is the most important thing."

Higgins and Williams, who contested last year's final, were both level after the opening session of their third-round matches but came through.

World number one Williams, winner of this title in 1999 and runner-up in Bournemouth 12 months ago, lost the first three frames to Scotland's Alan McManus.

But even though his highest single contribution was a mere 62, the Welshman came through 9-7 and will face Stephen Hendry in the next round.

Defending champion Higgins beat Paul Hunter 9-5 having trailed by 3-1 at one stage and now faces Stephen Lee.