Former world champion Doherty announces retirement

Former world snooker champion Ken Doherty has announced his retirement.

The 56-year-old Dubliner will still compete on the sport's senior tour but has confirmed he is finishing up on the main tour.

"I probably should have done it years ago to be honest," Doherty told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.

"It's just gotten so harder as I've gotten older. When you remember all the good days and you can't replicate that and you can't play as well as you used to, it becomes hard work and a bit more frustrating.

"So I think the time was right. I probably should have done it a few years ago but I just love the game, I love playing, I love being involved in it.

"I've had great support in Ireland and around the world. I'm really humbled by it and I think it's the right time to call it a day."

Known as the Darling of Dublin, he won six ranking titles in his career after turning professional in 1990.

His finest moment came when he defeated Stephen Hendry at the Crucible in Sheffield to win the 1997 World Championship.

In doing so, he became the third Irishman to win the world title at the Crucible and the first from the Republic.

"I never get sick of hearing those nice bits of commentary at the end of the 1997 World Championship," Doherty said.

"I dreamt about winning the World Championship when I saw [Alex] Higgins win it in '82 and Dennis Taylor win it in '85 and to emulate what those two did and bring the Cup back to Ireland. And to have the open-topped bus from the airport was just the dream of all dreams.

"I had such a special year with it. I've had great support in Ireland and around the world. I'm really humbled by it and I think it's the right time to call it a day."

Doherty, who also works as a TV commentator, reached the UK Championship final three times and the Masters final twice. He is currently 106 in the world rankings.

Doherty had been granted a two-year Invitational Tour Card in 2024 by the World Snooker Tour.

"We still have a couple of Seniors 900 events and I'll still be doing the exhibitions and recounting stories from '97, I never get tired of telling them.

"I'll still enjoy broadcasting as well, I'm working for the BBC and Channel 5."