Dott and Doherty both losing

[pat39]

I've just watched Ken Doherty losing to Mark Allen and was left wondering if the provisional 1 and 2 in the rankings going into the World Championship have ever lost in the 1st Round before. I guess it's also possible for Higgins to lose to Holt to make it the top 3 in the rankings to go out in Round 1.

Hopefully Statman or someone else can provide the answer.

[RaNeN]

I am surprised to see Doherty losing! Well played Allen.

[Q Ball]

Dont know much about this ALLEN?? Its a shame Ken lost, another nice guy.. iIt worries me with decent players going out early - does this make it an easy route for ronnie??

[Mal]

I've just watched Ken Doherty losing to Mark Allen and was left wondering if the provisional 1 and 2 in the rankings going into the World Championship have ever lost in the 1st Round before. I guess it's also possible for Higgins to lose to Holt to make it the top 3 in the rankings to go out in Round 1.

Hopefully Statman or someone else can provide the answer.

In terms of if this had ever happened before for top 2 in provisional rankings to go out first...
It definitely happened in 1982 - Steve Davis went out in the first round who was provisionally no.1. Cliff Thorburn was the official no.1 at the time also went out in the first round. Terry Griffiths, who must have been up there around the top 3 also went out in the first round.

In 2000, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan both went out in the first round. (I think however Mark Williams entered as provisional world no.1 and left the event as world no.1 having won it.)

However, the answer may have been as recently as last year. Stephen Hendry who was definitely provisionally world no.1 going into the event lost in the first round to Nigel Bond. I think John Higgins was provisionally world no.2 and he also lost in the first round to Mark Selby. Would need someone to clarify this.

[missneworleans]

BTW have u noticed that all ex-champions, whose surnames starting with D are out- Davis, Doherty and Dott. So now there's no champions with surnames starting with D

[Q Ball]

well spotted Miss

Can you pick the eventual winner tho????

Q

[Rane]

Last year we saw Hendry start as provisional no. 1 and lose in his first round match. Still he ended as number one, since all the others stumbled over their feet. I wonder if we will see that happening again ?