Ken Doherty

Born on 17 September 1969, Doherty grew up in a working-class Catholic family in Ranelagh, Dublin, with his three siblings, two older brothers and a younger sister. He first became interested in snooker when he started to watch the BBC programme Pot Black with his father at eight years old. At the time, Doherty particularly admired Alex Higgins. He received a miniature snooker table as a Christmas present, and soon afterwards began playing on full-sized tables at Jason's Snooker Hall in Ranelagh.{{harv|Doherty|2011}} When he was 13 years old, his father died from a heart attack. Shortly afterwards, he won the Irish Under-16 Championship. After leaving school, he moved to London to pursue his snooker career, receiving free accommodation and practice time at Ilford Snooker Centre courtesy of Irish professional Eugene Hughes. He won the World Under-21 Amateur Championship and the World Amateur Championship in 1989, and turned professional the following year.{{Cite web |last=Doherty |first=Ken |date=2018-07-05 |title=Ken Doherty: Nearly Over Before It Started |url=https://www.thesportschronicle.com/more-sports/ken-doherty-snooker-irish/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=The Sports Chronicle |language=en-GB}}

Doherty appeared in two quarter-finals in his first season as a professional, at the 1991 Classic and the 1991 Irish Masters, being beaten 5–3 by Jimmy White on both occasions. In the following snooker year, he won the qualifying event for the 1992 Masters, though there he lost 1–5 to John Parrott in the first round. He also made it to the semi-finals of the 1992 British and Strachan Open, and reached the final of the 1992 Irish Masters. He was a finalist at the 1992 Grand Prix as well, narrowly losing 10–9 to Jimmy White. In the same event a year later, Doherty lost in the final again, this time 6–9 to Peter Ebdon.

Doherty's first ranking title was the 1993 Welsh Open, enough to take him into the top 16 in the world, where he remained until the 2007–08 season. He also won the 1993 Irish Professional Championship,{{Cite news |date=25 October 2005 |title=Higgins comeback ends in defeat |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/4375574.stm |work=BBC Sport}}{{Cite news |date=29 September 2007 |title=Doherty edges past Greene |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/arid-30330067.html |publisher=Irish Examiner}} was a semi-finalist at the 1993 International Open, and a quarter-finalist again at the 1993 Irish Masters. More quarter-final appearances followed at the 1994 Masters and the 1994 World Championship, his only run past the second round in the latter before 1997,{{Cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Lee |title=1994 Embassy World Professional Snooker Championship |url=https://www.snooker.org/trn/world_94_res.shtml |publisher=Snooker.org}} and later on in the 1994 Dubai Classic,{{Cite news |date=5 October 1994 |title=Snooker: Hendry has to fight |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/snooker-hendry-has-to-fight-1441139.html |work=The Independent}} repeating his result from the previous edition of the event, down to the scoreline as he was beaten 5–4 both times. These weren't his only replicated outcomes, he also won the 1994 Pontins Professional just like he did last year, as well as the 1994 Scottish Masters after winning it in 1993 too.{{Cite news |date=26 October 2000 |title=Snooker: Doherty on target for Masters hat-trick |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2000/1026/152239-snooker |publisher=RTÉ Sport}}{{Cite web |title=Ken Doherty |url=https://wpbsa.com/player/ken-doherty |publisher=WPBSA}} In November he made it to the final of the 1994 UK Championship, which he lost 5–10 to Stephen Hendry,{{Cite news |last=Ryan |first=Eddie |title=When Crafty Ken won the World Snooker Championship |url=https://www.irelandsown.ie/when-crafty-ken-won-the-world-snooker-championship |publisher=Ireland's Own |archive-date=2 January 2023 |access-date=2 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102194407/https://www.irelandsown.ie/when-crafty-ken-won-the-world-snooker-championship/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news |date=20 January 2016 |title=Doherty Expects Tough Guild Hall Test |url=https://wst.tv/doherty-expects-tough-guild-hall-test |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220223752/https://wst.tv/doherty-expects-tough-guild-hall-test/ |archive-date=20 February 2020 |publisher=World Snooker Tour}} then in December he reached the quarter-final stage of the 1994 European Open, where he was defeated 5–3 by Nigel Bond. In the second half of the season, he was in yet another quarter-final at the 1995 Irish Masters, and in two finals, at the 1995 Pontins Professional and the 1995 European League.

Doherty became only the third player from outside the United Kingdom (after Australian Horace Lindrum in 1952 and Canadian Cliff Thorburn in 1980) to win the World Championship when he beat Stephen Hendry 18–12 in the 1997 final, at the age of 27. He also reached the World Championship final in 1998, losing to John Higgins, and in 2003, losing narrowly to Mark Williams. The latter run was noted for some outstanding comebacks, including final-frame wins over Graeme Dott and Shaun Murphy, a 13–8 win over Higgins in a match where Doherty raced ahead 10–0 but Higgins fought back to 10–7, and a semi-final fightback from 9–15 to beat Paul Hunter 17–16. In that championship, Doherty played more frames than anyone before or since. In the final, Williams led 11–4, but Doherty fought back to 12–12 and 16–16. In frame 33, Doherty missed the penultimate red with a clearance easily available. Williams won that crucial frame and the next to prevail 18–16.{{Cite news |date=2 January 2017 |title='It still gives me goosebumps' – Doherty 20 years after dethroning Hendry |url=https://www.the42.ie/ken-doherty-1997-world-snooker-champonship-3151059-Jan2017 |publisher=The42}}{{Cite news |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=7 May 2003 |title=Williams's bareknuckle victory |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2003/may/07/snooker.worldsnookerchampionship20031 |work=The Guardian}}

Doherty narrowly failed to achieve a maximum break when he missed a routine final black off its spot in the 15th frame of the 2000 Benson & Hedges Masters final against Matthew Stevens, a match Doherty eventually lost 10–8. This one pot would have seen him win an £80,000 sports car. However, his 140 break at least brought him the consolation of the £19,000 highest break prize.{{Cite news |date=31 October 2022 |title='I'm not going to miss this black' – Watch Ken Doherty delight Irish snooker fans with brilliant 147 maximum break |url=https://www.eurosport.co.uk/snooker/i-m-not-going-to-miss-this-black-watch-ken-doherty-delight-irish-snooker-fans-with-brilliant-147-max_sto9208869/story.shtml |publisher=Eurosport}} He did make a 147 break two years later though, when he won the Cue Club Pro-Am tournament in Killarney in 2002.{{Cite news |date=2 December 2002 |title=Doherty hits 147 en route to Pro-Am win |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2002/1202/168974-dohertyk |publisher=RTÉ Sport}} He made light of his prize on television shortly afterwards, which was allegedly €300, a BMX bicycle and a toy Ferrari car.{{Cite news |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=14 December 2002 |title=Doherty in line to end title drought |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2002/dec/14/snooker.cliveeverton |work=The Guardian}} His first official maximum was compiled in 2012, during a first round win against Julian Treiber at the Paul Hunter Classic.{{Cite web |date=25 August 2012 |title=Doherty claims first 147 |url=https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/doherty-claims-first-147_sto3398456/story.shtml |publisher=Eurosport}}{{Cite web |last=Glennon |first=Micil |date=24 August 2012 |title=Ken Doherty makes first tournament 147 break at the Arcaden Paul Hunter Classic |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2012/0824/334860-ken-doherty-makes-first-tournament-147-break |publisher=RTÉ Sport}}

In 2001 Doherty became one of the few players who have won back-to-back ranking events, as he won the Welsh Open{{Cite news |date=28 January 2001 |title=Snooker: Doherty triumphs at Welsh Open |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2001/0128/153893-dohertyk |publisher=RTÉ Sport}} and the Thailand Masters,{{Cite news |date=17 March 2001 |title=Snooker: Doherty wins in Thailand |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/arid-30006912.html |publisher=Irish Examiner}} while also reaching the final of the next tournament, the Regal Scottish Open.{{Cite news |date=15 April 2001 |title=Snooker: Doherty still on course for hat-trick |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/arid-30009930.html |publisher=Irish Examiner}}{{Cite news |date=16 April 2001 |title=Doherty beaten in Scottish Open |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2001/0416/155416-snooker |publisher=RTÉ Sport}}{{Cite web |date=2001–2002 |title=Profile on Sporting Life 2001/2002 |url=http://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/season01-02/profiles/kdoherty |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629215455/http://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/season01-02/profiles/kdoherty |archive-date=29 June 2011 |access-date=2 August 2008 |website=Sporting Life}}

In the 2005 World Championship, Doherty beat Barry Pinches in the first round 10–5, winning the last 8 frames,{{Cite news |date=18 April 2005 |title=Doherty cruises to first round Crucible win |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2005/0418/191841-doherty |publisher=RTÉ Sport}} but was knocked out in the second round by Alan McManus 13–11.{{Cite news |date=23 April 2005 |title=Doherty dumped out of World Championships |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2005/0423/192000-doherty |publisher=RTÉ Sport}}

Following an average start to the 2005–06 season, Doherty won the Malta Cup in February 2006, beating John Higgins in the final. Doherty had trailed 8–5 at one stage but managed a stirring comeback, winning four frames in a row. He called the victory, which bridged a five-year gap, his "most important tournament win since the World Championship".[http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/0205/maltacup.html Doherty wins Malta Cup final] RTÉ Sport. Published 5 February 2006{{Cite news |date=5 February 2006 |title=Doherty fightback stuns Higgins |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/4662738.stm |access-date=2 August 2008 |work=BBC Sport}}

Doherty started brightly in the 2006 World Championship, winning his first match by defeating Barry Hawkins 10–1, then he beat Matthew Stevens 13–8, playing superbly to win the last five frames. He was the favourite in his quarter-final match against Marco Fu but lost 13–10. It was 8–8 as the final session started, but Doherty struggled despite winning a frame in which he required three snookers. Although he led 7–6, 8–7, 9–8 and 10–9, he could never quite take decisive advantage to win the match. Doherty admitted afterwards that he "blew it" but that he still had "a couple more years" to come back and win the title.{{Cite news |date=26 April 2006 |title=Classy Fu sends Doherty crashing |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/4943096.stm |access-date=1 September 2009 |work=BBC Sport}} He ended the 2005–06 season as the world number 2, his highest ranking ever.

He made a solid start to the 2006–07 season by reaching the quarter-final at what is the closest thing to a home tournament for him, the Northern Ireland Trophy at Belfast's Waterfront Hall. He followed this up with a last-16 defeat at the Grand Prix in Aberdeen and the UK Championship in York. He reached the quarter-finals of the next two tournaments, the Masters and the Malta Cup. He lost in the first round of the World Championship and, although clearly disappointed, the Dubliner vowed to continue.[http://www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0424/dohertyk.html Doherty falls to qualifier Allen] RTÉ Sport, Published 24 April 2007 He was provisional world number 1 for most of 2006–07, but finished the season as 4th in the rankings.{{Cite web |last=Ardalen |first=Hermund |year=2007 |title=Provisional World Rankings 2007/2008 |url=http://www.snooker.org/rnk/0607/prov.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218115601/http://www.snooker.org/rnk/0607/prov.asp |archive-date=2007-02-18 |access-date=1 December 2010 |publisher=WWW Snooker}}{{Cite web |last=Ardalen |first=Hermund |year=2007 |title=World Rankings 2007/2008 |url=http://www.snooker.org/Rnk/0708/ranking.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070908010852/http://www.snooker.org/rnk/0708/ranking.asp |archive-date=2007-09-08 |access-date=1 December 2010 |publisher=WWW Snooker}}

In October 2006, he won the invitational Irish Professional Championship for a second time, having previously captured the title in 1993. He beat Michael Judge 9–4 in the final. A year later he defended his title with a resounding 9–2 victory over Fergal O'Brien. He followed this up a week later by becoming the first Irishman to win the Pot Black Invitational tournament, beating Shaun Murphy 76–31 in the one-frame final.{{Cite web |title=2007 Pot Black |url=http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Results/2007-8/07-8-Professional/2007-pot%20black.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130003017/http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Results/2007-8/07-8-Professional/2007-pot%20black.htm |archive-date=30 January 2009 |website=Global Snooker Centre}}{{Cite news |date=6 October 2007 |title=Doherty secures Pot Black title |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/7031830.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820081459/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/7031830.stm |archive-date=20 August 2008 |access-date=8 April 2011 |work=BBC Sport}}

Doherty did not start the 2007–08 season well, winning only one match during the first four ranking tournaments. However, he did reach the semi-finals of the Masters with victories over Mark Williams and Shaun Murphy,{{Cite web |title='Crafty' Ken Doherty reaches Masters semi-finals |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/snooker/2008/01/18/ken-doherty-reaches-masters-semi-finals-89520-20289603 |access-date=2 August 2008 |website=Mirror}}{{Dead link|date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} before losing to eventual champion Mark Selby. He then reached the final of the Malta Cup for a record fifth time, defeating John Higgins in the semi-finals, before losing to Murphy in the final. Unfortunately for Doherty, neither of these events are ranking events, meaning his performances did nothing to keep him in the top rankings for the 2008–09 season. Defeat to Liang Wenbo in the first round of the World Championship ensured that he dropped out of the top 16 after 15 years, and he started the new season 32nd on the provisional one-year list. A run of qualifying defeats saw him drop as low as 38th before the UK Championship.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Doherty's poor run of form continued during the 2008–09 season during which he won only two matches. For the first time since 1993, he failed to qualify for the World Championship, having been beaten in the final qualifying round by Gerard Greene.{{Cite web |title=Qualifying (Results) |url=http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-tournaments-08-09-world-championship-snooker-qualifying-results.asp |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413132756/http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-tournaments-08-09-world-championship-snooker-qualifying-results.asp |archive-date=13 April 2010 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=Global Snooker}}{{Cite web |title=Betfred.com World Championship Qualifiers 1 |url=http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=63 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728035832/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=63 |archive-date=2011-07-28 |access-date=6 May 2024 |publisher=Snooker.org}}

Doherty's form saw an upturn in the 2009–10 season, with a rise back into the top 32 in the rankings, up from 44th to 30th; this was due to a quarter-final appearance in the 2009 Shanghai Masters, and a last-16 appearance in the 2009 Grand Prix. Doherty defeated six-time World Championship finalist Jimmy White 10–3, and two-time Crucible semi-finalist Joe Swail 10–1 to mark his return to the World Championship for the first time since 2008. In an amusing moment, Doherty got down on his knees and kissed the carpet upon his return to the venue. However, he lost his first-round match 10–4 to reigning Masters champion Mark Selby.{{Cite web |date=19 April 2010 |title=Slick Selby ends Doherty's Crucible dream |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/slick-selby-ends-dohertys-crucible-dream/27948909.html |website=Evening Herald |via=Independent.ie}}

The 2010–11 season proved to be a mixed campaign for Doherty, who made it to the last 32 of the 2010 World Open, yet missed out on qualifying for the 2011 German Masters, the 2011 Welsh Open and crucially, blowing a 6–3 lead, losing 10–6 to Jimmy Robertson in the final stage of qualifying for the 2011 World Championship, meaning he had only reached the Crucible once out of his previous three attempts.{{Cite web |title=Betfred.com World Championship Qualifiers (2011) |url=http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=26 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525175804/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=26 |archive-date=25 May 2011 |access-date=23 February 2011 |publisher=Snooker.org}}

File:Ken Doherty PHC 2011-1.jpg

Doherty had an excellent start to the 2011–12 season as he qualified for the Australian Goldfields Open, where he reached his first ranking event semi-final since 2006. He beat Mark Selby 5–3 in the quarter-finals, sealing the match with a clearance which he described as the best of his career. Doherty also stated that he almost quit the game in 2009, following his downturn in form which saw him drop to world number 55.{{Cite web |title=Semi-finalist Doherty: I Nearly Quit Snooker |url=http://www.global-snooker.com/SEMI-FINALIST-DOHERTY-I-NEARLY-QUIT-SNOOKER-110722.asp |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526111523/http://www.global-snooker.com/SEMI-FINALIST-DOHERTY-I-NEARLY-QUIT-SNOOKER-110722.asp |archive-date=26 May 2012 |access-date=17 May 2012 |publisher=Global Snooker}} He failed to replicate his form in the semi-finals, however, as he was beaten 2–6 by Mark Williams.{{Cite web |date=23 July 2011 |title=Williams moves into the final in Australia |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~2400087,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326115556/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~2400087%2C00.html |archive-date=26 March 2014 |access-date=17 May 2012 |publisher=WPBSA}} In the remainder of the season Doherty qualified for the German Masters and the Welsh Open, but was defeated in the first round by Williams and Mark Allen respectively, without picking up a frame.{{Cite web |title=Ken Doherty 2011/2012 |url=http://snooker.org/res/index.asp?player=170&season=2011 |access-date=17 May 2012 |publisher=Snooker.org}} He also reached the final of the non-ranking Irish Classic, losing 2–5 to Fergal O'Brien.{{Cite web |last=Nolan |first=PJ |title=O' Brien Wins Lucan Racing Classic 201 |url=http://www.ribsa.net/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=246:lucan-classic-2011&Itemid=168 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204092340/http://www.ribsa.net/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=246:lucan-classic-2011&Itemid=168 |archive-date=4 February 2012 |access-date=17 May 2012 |publisher=Republic of Ireland Billiards and Snooker Association}}

File:Ken Doherty PHC 2012-1.jpg

He was ranked 32nd in the world going into the 2012 World Championship qualifiers, where he faced Anthony Hamilton. The match went into a deciding frame with Doherty 40 points behind, but he profited from a Hamilton error to produce a match-winning clearance to win 10–9, and earned a first-round match against Neil Robertson.{{Cite news |date=15 April 2012 |title=Doherty wins thriller to earn place at Crucible |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2012/0415/317116-doherty-wins-thriller-to-earn-place-at-crucible/ |access-date=18 April 2012 |publisher=RTÉ Sport}} He lost 4–10, and finished the season ranked world number 35.{{Cite news |date=22 April 2012 |title=Doherty goes out, while Hendry marches on in Sheffield |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2012/0422/318050-doherty-out-as-hendry-goes-through/ |access-date=17 May 2012 |publisher=RTÉ Sport}}{{Cite web |title=Official World Ranking List for the 2012/2013 Season |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/1d/b0/0,,13165~176157,00.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616125200/http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/1d/b0/0%2C%2C13165~176157%2C00.pdf |archive-date=16 June 2013 |access-date=17 May 2012}}

Doherty began the 2012–13 season by losing 4–5 to Stuart Bingham in the second round of the Wuxi Classic, and 3–5 to Martin Gould in the first round of the Australian Goldfields Open.{{Cite web |title=Ken Doherty 2012/2013 |url=http://snooker.org/res/index.asp?player=170&season=2012 |access-date=21 May 2013 |publisher=Snooker.org}} He went on to reach the quarter-finals of the event, losing 0–4 to Mark Selby. Doherty was defeated in qualifying for the Shanghai Masters and the 2012 UK Championship, and failed to advance beyond the wildcard round of the International Championship. At the fifth European Tour Event, the Scottish Open, he saw off the likes of Luca Brecel and Ryan Day to reach the semi-finals where he lost 2–4 to Ding Junhui.{{Cite web |title=Snooker – Ding wins Scottish Open, McGill reaches first final |url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/snooker-ding-good-davis-ravenscraig-122606171.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524051916/https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/snooker-ding-good-davis-ravenscraig-122606171.html |archive-date=24 May 2014 |access-date=21 May 2013 |publisher=Eurosport}} Doherty was eliminated in the first round of the German Masters by Peter Lines, but then had his best run of the season at the Welsh Open. He beat four-time world champion John Higgins 4–1 and Tom Ford 4–3 to make it through to the quarter-finals.{{Cite news |date=14 February 2013 |title=Ken Doherty reaches Wales Open quarter-finals |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2013/0214/367790-doherty-reaches-welsh-quarter-finals/ |access-date=21 May 2013 |publisher=RTÉ Sport}} He led Stuart Bingham 2–0, but a series of missed pots saw Doherty lose his confidence and he went on to lose 3–5.{{Cite news |date=15 February 2013 |title=As it Happened: Ken Doherty 3–5 Stuart Bingham |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2013/0215/367973-live-ken-doherty-v-stuart-bingham/ |access-date=21 May 2013 |publisher=RTÉ Sport}} His aforementioned run to the semi-finals of the Scottish Open helped him finish 16th on the PTC Order of Merit to qualify as one of the top 26 players for the Finals, but he lost 2–4 to Kurt Maflin in the first round.{{Cite web |title=Order of Merit 2012/2013 |url=http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?template=10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428072211/http://snooker.org/res/index.asp?template=10 |archive-date=28 April 2013 |access-date=20 May 2013 |publisher=Snooker.org}} Doherty almost pulled off one of his trademark comebacks against Matthew Selt in the final round of the World Championship qualifying, as from 4–9 down he levelled at 9–9, but he lost the deciding frame.{{Cite web |title=Selt Survives Doherty Fight-Back |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3144116,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418034058/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~3144116%2C00.html |archive-date=18 April 2013 |access-date=18 April 2013 |publisher=World Snooker}} The result meant that this was the first season where Doherty had not featured in any of snooker's Triple Crown events. Doherty increased his ranking by eight spots during the season to finish it ranked world number 27.{{Cite web |title=Official World Snooker Ranking List for the 2013/2014 Season |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/49/bc/0,,13165~179273,00.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611202605/http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/49/bc/0%2C%2C13165~179273%2C00.pdf |archive-date=11 June 2013 |access-date=21 May 2013 |publisher=World Snooker}}

Doherty qualified for all but two of the ranking events in the 2013–14 season, but couldn't advance beyond the second round in any of them.{{Cite web |title=Ken Doherty 2013/2014 |url=http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?season=2013&player=170 |access-date=17 April 2014 |publisher=Snooker.org}} In April, he qualified for the World Championship after a 10–5 win against Dechawat Poomjaeng in the final qualifying round.{{Cite web |date=15 April 2014 |title=Former world champion Ken Doherty books his 19th appearance at the Crucible |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/former-world-champion-ken-doherty-books-his-19th-appearance-at-the-crucible-30189381.html |access-date=17 April 2014 |website=Irish Independent}}{{Cite web |title=Dott / Williams / Stevens Miss Crucible |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3769210,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418210727/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~3769210%2C00.html |archive-date=18 April 2014 |access-date=17 April 2014 |publisher=World Snooker}} Doherty was the oldest player in the draw in his 19th Crucible appearance, and after trailing Stuart Bingham 5–4 in the opening session of their first round match, Doherty produced his best snooker to take all six frames in the next session and win a match at the Crucible for the first time since 2006.{{Cite news |title=World Snooker Championship: Ken Doherty beats Bingham |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/27095988 |access-date=29 April 2014 |work=BBC Sport}} He then lost 13–8 to Alan McManus, the second oldest player in the event.{{Cite news |title=World Snooker Championship 2014: McManus beats Doherty |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/27175115 |access-date=29 April 2014 |work=BBC Sport}}

Doherty won three qualifying matches and a wildcard round to be at the 2014 Shanghai Masters, where he met Mark Selby in the first round, losing 5–2.{{Cite web |date=10 September 2014 |title=Wildcard Zhao Stuns Fu |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/wild-card-zhao-stuns-fu/ |access-date=29 April 2015 |publisher=World Snooker}} The only other tournament Doherty could advance to the last 32 in this season was the 2014 UK Championship by overcoming Mitchell Mann and Michael White, but he was beaten 6–1 by Ricky Walden. He was knocked out of the semi-finals of the World Seniors Championship by Fergal O'Brien.{{Cite web |title=Ken Doherty 2014/2015 |url=http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?season=2014&player=170 |access-date=29 April 2015 |publisher=Snooker.org}} He reached the final round of World Championship qualifying following wins over Reanne Evans and Lee Walker, but was thrashed 10–3 by Mark Davis.{{Cite news |title=World Championship: Ken Doherty goes out to Mark Davis |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/32324312 |access-date=29 April 2015 |work=BBC Sport}} Doherty was placed 45th in the world rankings at the end of the season, the lowest he had been since 1991.{{Cite web |title=World Rankings After 2015 World Championship |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/rankings/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507001308/http://www.worldsnooker.com/rankings/ |archive-date=7 May 2015 |access-date=8 May 2015 |publisher=World Snooker}}

A 6–0 thrashing at the hands of Peter Ebdon ended Doherty's International Championship run at the first round stage, and he lost 6–3 to Mark Davis in the second round of the 2015 UK Championship, having whitewashed Tony Drago 6–0 in the opener. His best results in the season were a pair of last 32 exits at the German Masters and Welsh Open, losing 5–1 to Stephen Maguire and 4–2 to Joe Perry respectively.{{Cite web |title=Ken Doherty 2015/2016 |url=http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?player=170&season=2015 |access-date=24 September 2016 |publisher=Snooker.org}} His end of season ranking of 57 was the lowest of his 26-year professional career.{{Cite web |title=Ranking History |url=http://www.snooker.org/rnk/history.asp |access-date=24 September 2016 |publisher=Snooker.org}} He had two last 16 showings during 2016–17, and would have dropped off the tour at the end of the season as he was outside of the top 64 in the world rankings.{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Daniel |date=11 April 2017 |title=Ken Doherty loses his Snooker tour card |url=http://www.newstalk.com/Ken-Doherty-loses-his-Snooker-tour-card |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517003818/http://www.newstalk.com/Ken-Doherty-loses-his-Snooker-tour-card |archive-date=17 May 2017 |access-date=14 April 2017 |website=Newstalk.com}} However, the day before the 2017 World Championship started, it was announced that Doherty would receive an invitational tour card for the next two years.{{Cite news |title=Jimmy White and Ken Doherty given tour cards by World Snooker |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/39603356 |access-date=15 April 2017 |work=BBC Sport}}

Doherty played against Ronnie O'Sullivan, the defending champion, in the second round of the 2018 UK Championship. Doherty was sharp throughout the first half of the first session, leading 3–1, then he extended his lead further to 4–1, but O'Sullivan fought back to win the next 4 frames. Doherty was able to force a decider, but ultimately just one error from him was enough for his opponent to finish the frame, to prevent Doherty from causing a considerable upset in the tournament where many seeds fell to lower-ranked players already,{{Cite news |date=2 December 2018 |title=O'Sullivan Fight Back Floors Doherty |url=https://wst.tv/osullivan-fight-back-floors-doherty |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220212613/https://wst.tv/osullivan-fight-back-floors-doherty/ |archive-date=20 February 2020 |work=World Snooker Tour}} and more would follow. Doherty would be the only player that came close to defeating the eventual champion, as the other matches, with the exception of the final, produced very one-sided results.{{Cite news |date=9 December 2018 |title=UK Championship 2018: Full tournament results |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/46078319 |work=BBC Sport}}

Doherty's loss in the 2020 World Championship qualifying meant that he finished the season outside the top 64 and fell out of the tour. However, he was given an invitational tour card to continue playing professional snooker in the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-11 |title=Jimmy White Awarded New Invitational Tour Card |url=https://wst.tv/jimmy-white-awarded-new-invitational-tour-card/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411091158/https://wst.tv/jimmy-white-awarded-new-invitational-tour-card/ |archive-date=11 April 2021 |access-date=2021-06-23 |publisher=World Snooker |language=en-US}} The same occurred at his loss in the 2022 World Championship qualifying, for the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons,{{Cite web |date=26 April 2022 |title=Steve Dawson Announcements |url=https://wst.tv/steve-dawson-announcements |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426141354/https://wst.tv/steve-dawson-announcements/ |archive-date=26 April 2022}} and at the end of the 2023–24 season, when Doherty had dropped to 79 in the world rankings, but was able to remain on the World Snooker Tour after being given a further two-year invitational card by the governing body.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2024/0625/1456560-doherty-granted-new-tour-card-by-world-snooker|title=Ken Doherty granted new tour card by World Snooker|date=25 June 2024 |publisher=RTÉ|access-date=25 June 2024}}

Despite being most renowned as an intelligent tactician, he is a heavy scorer as well when amongst the balls at close quarters.{{Cite web |last=Kalb |first=Rolf |date=6 November 2012 |title=Snooker – Ding souverän – aber verpasst Maximum-Break |url=http://de.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/snooker-ding-souver%C3%A4n-verpasst-maximum-break-160132799.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110121031/http://de.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/snooker-ding-souver%C3%A4n-verpasst-maximum-break-160132799.html |archive-date=10 November 2012 |access-date=6 November 2012 |publisher=Yahoo! Eurosport |language=de}} This relatively cautious approach has led to the nickname "Crafty Ken".{{Cite web |date=25 March 2020 |title=The ancient Irish origins of the last name Doherty |url=https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/genealogy/doherty-irish-name-origin-ireland |website=IrishCentral.com}}{{Cite web |last=Haigh |first=Phil |date=5 May 2021 |title=Ken Doherty: World Seniors defeat was one of the most painful of my career |url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/05/05/ken-doherty-world-seniors-championship-defeat-was-one-of-the-most-painful-of-my-career-14526648/ |website=Metro.co.uk}}

For most of his career, Doherty played with a warped cue randomly selected from the cue rack in Jason's, a club where he practised. He humorously revealed that the club manager originally wanted £5 for it, but Doherty haggled him down to £2.{{Cite news |last=Loughran |first=Neil |date=2 April 2022 |title=Beating the best: How Ken Doherty stunned the unstoppable Scot |url=https://www.irishnews.com/sport/othersports/2022/04/02/news/beating-the-best-how-ken-doherty-stunned-the-unstoppable-stephen-hendry-25-years-ago-2630734 |work=The Irish News}} At the 2025 World Snooker Championship qualifiers, Doherty switched to a different cue for the first time in his professional career, likening the change to a "new romance".{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-04-09 |title=New Cue Powers Doherty To Qualifying Win |url=https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/april/09/new-cue-powers-doherty-to-qualifying-win/ |access-date=2025-04-11 |website=World Snooker Tour |language=en}}

Doherty works on TV coverage of snooker matches with the BBC snooker coverage team. He became a regular commentator for the BBC starting with the 2009 Masters, following the side-lining of veteran expert Clive Everton. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he began working on ITV's snooker coverage.

Doherty guested as a presenter on the Morning Show on East Coast FM. He presents a sports programme on Sunshine 106.8FM on Saturday mornings.{{Cite web |title=Dublin's Talking Sport with Ken Doherty |url=http://www.sunshine1068.com/on-air/presenters/ken-doherty |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017051127/http://www.sunshine1068.com/on-air/presenters/ken-doherty |archive-date=17 October 2014 |access-date=13 January 2020}}

Doherty married Sarah, who is originally from India, in December 2001.{{Cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Sophie |last2=Whelan |first2=Vincent |date=2022-05-09 |title=Inside Ken Doherty's family life - days out with son and split from partner |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/other-sport/snooker/inside-ken-dohertys-family-life-26918386 |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Irish Mirror |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sunderland |first=Tom |date=2022-05-08 |title=Snooker legend Ken Doherty confirms he is no longer with wife as they share son |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/snooker/ken-doherty-son-wife-split-26907663 |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=The Mirror |language=en}} The couple resided in Rathgar, Dublin, and have a son, born in 2007.{{Cite web |date=17 January 2008 |title=Doherty not bothered by 'sleepless nights' |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2008/0117/226923-dohertyk |access-date=13 January 2020 |via=www.rte.ie}} In 2022, Doherty revealed that he and his wife had separated amicably.{{Cite web |last=Pownall |first=Sylvia |date=8 May 2022 |title=Snooker legend Ken Doherty no longer with wife Sarah but says pair get on well for son |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/other-sport/snooker/snooker-legend-ken-doherty-no-26904043 |publisher=Irish Sunday Mirror}} He now lives in England.{{Cite news |last=Keenan |first=Mark |date=10 June 2022 |title='I fell in love with the house as soon as I saw that Virginia creeper' – snooker star Ken Doherty is saying farewell to his €2.5m home in Dublin 6 |url=https://www.independent.ie/life/home-garden/homes/i-fell-in-love-with-the-house-as-soon-as-i-saw-that-virginia-creeper-snooker-star-ken-doherty-is-saying-farewell-to-his-25m-home-in-dublin-6-41737967.html |work=The Irish Independent}}

Doherty was nearly blinded in 2002 in a bathroom accident; after slipping, he struck an ornament, which narrowly missed his left eye. However, the distinctive scar on his right cheek dates back to his seventh birthday, when he fell off a shed roof onto a metal dustbin.{{Cite news |last=Gilleece |first=Dermot |date=6 May 1997 |title=Ranelagh man at home with himself, his scar and old cue |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/ranelagh-man-at-home-with-himself-his-scar-and-old-cue-1.69545 |work=The Irish Times}}

Doherty and his family are of Roman Catholic faith, with his mother, Rose usually praying while Ken was playing matches.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

In May 2007, Doherty appeared on RTÉ's spoof show Anonymous, heavily disguised as a priest.{{Cite web |date=21 May 2007 |title=World snooker ace Ken Doherty has to convince Ranelagh folk and Alex Higgins that he is a novice at snooker and a parish |url=https://presspack.rte.ie/2007/05/21/anonymous-9 |work=RTÉ}} Ostensibly he was a beginner at snooker and received some tips from Alex Higgins, who was initially fooled by the make-up and Doherty's hopeless play. However, as "Fr Donoghue" began to clear the table, Higgins' suspicions were aroused and Doherty was eventually rumbled. Doherty's disguise was enough to fool his mother and his wife.{{Cite web |date=20 May 2007 |title=I had no CUE It was you; HIGGINS SNOOKERED BY DOHERTY'S DISGUISE. |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/I+had+no+CUE+It+was+you%3b+HIGGINS+SNOOKERED+BY+DOHERTY%27S+DISGUISE.-a0163618769 |publisher=Sunday Mirror; archived by The Free Library}} In 2020, Doherty made a cameo appearance along with Jack Lisowski and Liang Wenbo in the snooker movie Break.{{Cite web |date=10 November 2020 |title=Watch Break – The Movie |url=https://wst.tv/break-the-movie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808235004/https://wst.tv/break-the-movie/ |archive-date=8 August 2020 |publisher=World Snooker Tour}}

Doherty has been a WPBSA player director since 2012.{{Cite web |date=17 December 2018 |title=Ferguson and Doherty re-elected as WPBSA directors at AGM |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1073428/ferguson-and-doherty-re-elected-as-wpbsa-directors-at-agm |access-date=13 January 2020 |website=www.insidethegames.biz}}

{{Reflist|group=nb}}

{{Reflist|2|refs=

{{Cite web |year=2009 |title=Ken Doherty |url=http://uk.yahoo.eurosport.com/snooker/person_prs28953.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204202516/http://uk.yahoo.eurosport.com/snooker/person_prs28953.shtml |archive-date=4 February 2009 |access-date=13 February 2010 |publisher=Yahoo! UK}}

}}

• {{Cite book |last=Doherty |first=Ken |title=Ken Doherty – Life in the Frame – My Story |publisher=Blake Publishing |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-84358-504-6}}

{{Commons category|Ken Doherty}}

{{portal|Cue sports}}

• {{WST player}}
• {{snooker.org player}}

{{World snooker champions}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Doherty, Ken}}

Category:1969 births

Category:Living people

Category:Irish snooker players

Category:Sportspeople from County Dublin

Category:RTÉ Sports Person of the Year winners

Category:Winners of the professional snooker world championship

Category:People from Ranelagh

Category:Snooker commentators