Defeat to Jimmy White in the first round of the Regal Scottish Masters at Motherwell last night got Ken Doherty's season off to a disappointing start.

In his first match of the new term Doherty crashed out 5-4 after building up an early lead of three frames to one, at which stage he could have been forgiven for considering himself on course for a quarter-final meeting with defending champion Nigel Bond.

It was not to be as White hit back, winning two frames before Doherty regained the lead at 4-3. White took the eighth frame after a lapse of concentration cost Doherty a routine black when 38 points up and went on to polish things off with a 71 break in the deciding frame.