• It's a rib-tickler for Taylor

    Dennis Taylor joined Ken Doherty in a special exhibition to mark the opening of the Jury's Inn in Sheffield, but the 1985 Champion was left with bruised ribs.


    A brand new Jury's Inn has opened in Eyre Street, Sheffield with 259 rooms, making it the largest hotel in Sheffield.

    Barely a 5 minute stroll to the Crucible, it's an ideal base for snooker fans visiting the World Snooker Championship.


    It's also ideally located for the myriad other events that this sports crazy city hosts, and little over a half hour drive to the beautiful Peak District.

    With snooker firmly at the top of the agenda, a table was put into the hotel's restaurant, world snooker referee Brendan Moore, a Sheffield local, was on hand to officiate and two of the world's favourite players, Ken Doherty and Dennis Taylor lined up to compete in an exhibition match to mark the official opening of the hotel.


    The two Irish legends were quickly swapping jokes and snooker anecdotes and a
    packed house cheered and laughed. Flash cameras went off every few minutes but it
    didn't deter Doherty, who pounced when Taylor missed a red on 22, to rattle in 96. But
    unfortunately he missed a tricky pink with the rest to deny the crowd a century break.

    Taylor, who rarely plays these days, won the next, much to his own surprise, but
    Doherty wrapped up a 2-1 win and Taylor went off to wrap up his ribs.

    "I stretched for a shot, not wise at my age, and felt a rib crack. How silly is it to get
    injured playing snooker" quipped the 1985 World Champion.

    Taylor went on to explain "I never play these days, I do very few exhibitions, most of
    my work now is after dinner speaking.


    "I did alright though to win the second frame, I was quite surprised to find I hadn't
    totally lost the touch!"

    Taylor went on to call on snooker authorities to bring back the popular World Team
    Cup, an event he won with his Irish colleagues way back in 1985, 1986 and 1987.

    "It was a great event, the fans enjoyed it, the players enjoyed it and it would be
    wonderful to see it back on the calendar again.

    "These days there are new countries who could field good teams and it would be more
    competitive than ever."

    For the record the last time the event was held was in Thailand in 1996 when Scotland
    beat the Irish 10-7 with their dream team of Stephen Hendry, John Higgins and Alan
    McManus.

    Ken Doherty has endured a miserable season that he's glad to see the back of. Doherty
    is in Sheffield to do some BBC work but he's sad not to be out in the arena competing.


    "It's a bit strange not to be playing, it's very disappointing.

    "At least I'm here, doing some television work, but hopefully I'll be back here to play
    again next year."

    The 1997 Champion is another player who would hate to see the World Championship
    move away from its Sheffield home. "I wouldn't like to see it moved, but I suppose in
    these times we can't afford to be choosy.

    "It wouldn't be good for the home (UK) fans if it went to China. It wouldn't be the same
    sitting watching games at 7am in the morning."