Ireland's Ken Doherty insists he cannot take "anything for granted" at the China Open.

Doherty struggled for the first part of this season but then raised his game to reach the semi-finals of the SAGA Insurance Masters at Wembley and followed with a few more significant wins.

But the Irishman, a six-time ranking event winner, has slipped to a provisional 15th in the world rankings - and if he does not perform in China or at the World Championship in Sheffield next month, then he risks falling out of the top 16.

Doherty has been a member of that elite for 15 consecutive seasons, but the 38-year-old concedes it is "getting tougher and tougher" to stay at the top.

He continued: "It's very important for me to play well in China. It would be nice to get some ranking points under my belt because that way I'll take the pressure off myself before the World Championship.

"I love it out here, I've had some good performances. I reached a semi-final and a final and you're always well received by the crowds, the Chinese love their snooker.

"Early in the season I wasn't playing well, but going there my form is good and I'm certainly up for the challenge."

Sporting Life / Eurosport