Quinten Hann, whose preparation and attitude has frequently undermined his exceptional talent, produced a gritty and high-quality recovery from two down with three to play here yesterday to beat the world No. 4 Ken Doherty 5-4 and reach the last 16 of the Regal Scottish Open.

No Australian since Eddie Charlton in 1986 has been ranked in the top 16 but Hann is favourably placed to secure one of the last places in the official revision due on May 7.

Whereas Steady Eddie, constantly involved in midnight finishes, was a by-word for no-risks, no-frills durability, Hann has the flair and range of shots the grand old Aussie was never able to demonstrate.

Hann's capacity for self-handicap, though, has often bordered on self-destruction. A broken collarbone from racing a superbike put him out for half a season; his maiden parachute jump left him with a broken foot but did not prevent him from hobbling to a UK Championship quarter-final in his socks; his sulky moods have seen him concede frames with as many as 13 reds left; and his prize money was once withheld for not giving of his best endeavours.

Yesterday, he played flawlessly for two frames but looked utterly demoralised after Doherty, one of the circuit's great tacticians, had restricted him to only 27 points in the next four.

"I think I was lucky to beat Ken," said the 24-year-old from Melbourne. "When I was 4-2 down I didn't think I would win.

"I decided not to get emotionally involved in the match and just play the balls. In the last frame I actually played pretty well."

When a chance came his way early in the seventh, he made 63 from it, added a break of 74 to level at 4-4 and overcame several difficulties in his runs of 34 and 52 that gave him the decider.

Hann could take the top-16 place of Dave Harold, who has had a miserable season. However, Harold has a glimmer of hope: his 5-2 victory over Bradley Jones has given him a third-round meeting with the qualifier Bradley Hawkins rather than the world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan.

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