Snooker: Former winner Ken Doherty blazed his way through to the first round of the Betfred.com World Championship and revealed Steve Davis was inspiring him to turn his career around. The Dubliner made short work of beating his good friend and fellow 40-year-old Joe Swail 10-1 in the final round of qualifying today.
The Dubliner, who beat Stephen Hendry in the 1997 Crucible final, opened up an 8-1 lead in the first session and swiftly converted that into victory to seal his place in Thursday’s draw for the televised stages.
Doherty failed to qualify for the World Championship last year but his relishing his 17th visit as a player.
“I missed it terribly. I was in tears almost last year when I lost. I didn’t know where my game was going and it was a real down time for me,” he said. “I always thought it was a premature end, it couldn’t be like that and I had a lot more to offer.”
Davis, at 52, will be appearing at the home of snooker for the 30th time after beating Adrian Gunnell yesterday and the six-time world champion continues to amaze.
Doherty said: “You look at Steve Davis and the way he played yesterday and he’s five or six years older than Jimmy White and John Parrott. You could take a lot of leaves out of Steve Davis’ book.
“I take a lot of inspiration from the likes of Steve and Jimmy. They’re great characters, they’ve been great players and ambassadors and have a great determination and grit — and that was obvious the way Steve qualified and how Jimmy keeps coming back for more.”
Doherty ended White’s qualification hopes this year, beating him in the previous round, but the 47-year-old Englishman intends to play on next season.
Parrott is expected to quit the sport, though, even though Doherty suggests the 1991 world champion should think again.
Doherty said: “John Parrott is a true champion and I hope he reconsiders retirement because I think he still has a lot to offer the game. Jimmy is the same as well. He says he’s going to give it one more year but I think there’s plenty of life.”
Doherty had the chance of a 147 maximum break in the 10th frame against Swail but a kick on the 11th red left him awkward on the black, which he overcut. A maximum would have been worth £5,000 in prize money.
Joining Doherty in the first-round draw will be debutant Tom Ford after the 26th-year-old Leicester cueman crushed Judd Trump 10-3, finishing with a break of 100.
Ford received a text message from fellow Leicester player and reigning Masters champion Mark Selby during the interval.
Ford acknowledges Selby has been a model professional, while he has spent too much time drinking and going out with friends.
“I’ve not stopped it, I’ve just cut it down, because everybody likes going out. But it’s not good for you when you’re trying to practise the next day and you’ve got a hangover,” Ford said.
“A lot of players from the same place would be jealous. He texted me earlier on saying, ‘well done, carry it on and keep it up in the future’.
“I see Mark on TV a lot of the time and it does wind me up because I know I should be trying to do the same thing. That’s why I’ve knuckled down this year.
“Mark is very dedicated, he doesn’t drink that much, so we’re not on the same wavelength there. I took the wrong path when I was 18, started going out too much, whereas he knuckled down himself and he’s done what he’s done because he had the dedication.”