Crafty Ken, a profile of Ken Doherty

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Ken Doherty is most famously known for winning the 1997 World Championship but how did this dream come true? 

Doherty started his career selling programmes at Goff’s as a teenager.
Ken then used his love of the game to become Irish Amateur Champion and World Amateur Champion. A feat that few players have achieved, a comedic character off the table, he has always been ruthless on it, amassing over 300 century break in his long and established career.

The pinnacle of his snooker career was when he beat an in form Stephen Hendry 18-12 to become Wold Champion. A feat that only Horace Lindburn and Cliff Thorburn had managed up until this point as non UK players.

Similarly Doherty was able to set another by winning back to back titles in the Welsh Open and Thailand Masters in 2001 and reaching the final of the next, the Regal Scottish Open.

Another memorable moment came in the 2000 Benson and Hedges Masters when Ken missed a routine black to narrowly miss out on a 147 maximum.


Doherty still plays on the main tour and along with Jimmy White was offered a two year wild card after falling down the rankings. He also plays on the newly created Seniors tours, takes part in snooker exhibitions and does commentary pundit work for BBC sport.

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