Ken Doherty beat Matthew Stevens 6-5 in a tense second-round match at the B&H Masters.

It would mean everything to me if I could win here this week Ken Doherty

The Irishman had been 5-2 ahead and apparently cruising towards a place in the next round.

But his Welsh opponent rallied, taking three consecutive frames to force a scrappy decider.

Both players managed century breaks during the match but the match finally swung in Doherty's favour when he fluked a snooker on the final yellow of the match and Stevens could not escape.

Doherty can now look forward to playing 1995 champion Ronnie O'Sullivan or Masters debutant Joe Perry on Thursday for a place in the semi-finals.

Second round result:
Ken Doherty (Ire) 6-5 Matthew Stevens (Wal)
69-35 66-6 67-57 44-88 (88) 100-0 (100) 0-104 (104) 62-43 12-62 (58) 60-64 15-74 68-36

Scotland's Alan McManus came back from the brink of defeat to beat Mark Davis 6-5 in the first round.

McManus was staring defeat in the face at 5-3 down after Davis had won five frames on the trot, which included succesive century breaks and an 87.

Had I lost I couldn't have had any complaints...all I could do was try and hang on Alan McManus

But the 1994 champion clawed his way back with breaks of 63 and 84 to take the match into the decisive 11th frame.

McManus then opened up a 54-point lead and, although Davis rallied, it was not enough to deny his opponent.

First round result:
Alan McManus (Sco) 6-5 Mark Davis (Eng)
95-0 (64) 83-0 (83) 71-27 (67) 1-70 40-74 0-87 (87) 1-104 (104) 6-107 (107) 113-20 (63) 88-0 (84) 71-29

Mark Williams overcame a 3-1 deficit against Graeme Dott as he won his second round match 6-3.

I think I am playing better than anyone Mark Williams

Williams got off to a commanding start, with a century break in the opening frame, to immediately put his opponent under pressure.

But he went off the boil as Dott hit back with breaks of 57, 76 and 53.

The world number two, though, steadied his nerves and stunned Dott with a series of impressive visits to the table.

Afterwards Williams said: "I have been in good form for a while so I hope it will continue. I think I am playing better than anyone."

Second round result:
Mark Williams (Wales) 6-3 Graeme Dott (Scot)
102-1 (102) 1-65 0-76 (76) 20-67 (53) 88-1 (88) 69-28 (51) 64-15 121-0 (121) 115-0 (115)