Malta’s Alex Borg, photo, yesterday played his first two matches in the Sangsom 6 Red world championship being held in Bangkok, Thailand.

He won his first match against Pakistan’s Muhammad Majid Ali 5-3, but then lost narrowly against Ireland’s Ken Doherty who had to dig deep to come from 0-4 in arrears to clinch a

5-4 win.

Borg had won the first frame narrowly 32-33, then went on to win the next three frames 11-46,0-66,23-34 to take a handsome 4-0 lead. But the Irishman fought back strongly and managed to turn defeat into a win by winning the remaining five frames 42-0,39-25,66-0,35-8,39-0

Today, Borg will be playing against Matthew Stevens of Wales. Tomorrow, he plays twice, first meeting Ratchayothin Yotharak of Thailand and later Scotland’s Stephen Maguire.

Malta’s other professional, Tony Drago, is not taking part in this event.