Doherty has slid down to 44th in the world rankings

Former world champion Ken Doherty began his bid to regain a spot in the world's top 16 with a win over Aditya Mehta in the Shanghai Masters qualifying round.

The Irishman was always in control and a protracted safety exchange in the fourth frame only delayed the inevitable as he eased to a 5-0 win.

Doherty, who has slid to 44th in the world, faces Neil Robertson next.

Englishman Andrew Higginson crashed out despite taking the first frame against China's Tian Pengfei, losing 5-1.

Tian responded with a fine display of break building to take five frames on the trot and reach the first round proper, which starts on Tuesday.

Scotland's Marcus Campbell had a similarly easy passage past China's Jun Tang, running out a 5-1 winner to book a first-round meeting with his compatriot Stephen Hendry in the season's first ranking event.

606: DEBATE Doherty's slump is probably the most baffling event I can remember in snooker oneball2

But another Scot, Graeme Dott - who, like Doherty, is aiming to get back into the world's top 16 players from his current ranking of 28th - had a struggle before getting the better of Mohamed Shehab from the United Arab Emirates 5-3.

Elsewhere, Chinese star Liang Wenbo booked his last-32 place with a 5-2 defeat of England's David Gilbert to set up a match against Peter Ebdon, while England's Matthew Selt booked a match-up with world champion John Higgins with a 5-0 whitewash of Shi Hanqingt.

Nigel Bond had to work hard for his 5-4 win over China's Yu Delu, but Kent's Gerard Greene led 3-0 and 4-2 against Li Yan only to crash out 5-4.

The defending champion is Ricky Walden, who enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2008-09, beating Ronnie O'Sullivan in the Shanghai final.

The 26-year-old Englishman is also closing in on a top-16 ranking, and believes maintaining a high level of fitness is an important factor.

He is planning to run the New York Marathon on 1 November, and explained recently: "I've been doing a lot of running because it gives me discipline outside snooker, and it improves my fitness.

"It can only help my game, especially in the long matches, and that will give me more chances to win trophies.

"I've done a couple of half-marathons before, but never a full one. It could finish me off!"

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