• A Champion's Memories

    Global-snooker.com speaks to one of only two men who have won three different World Championships with a cue. India’s own Pankaj Advani is one, having won the IBSF World Snooker and Billiards titles and earlier this summer he became the World Professional Billiards Champion as well.

    The other man is Ireland’s Ken Doherty. ‘The Darling of Dublin’ won the IBSF World Under 21 title in 1989. He followed that up by winning the IBSF World Snooker Championship later the same year. The icing on the cake and the biggest title of all, The World Professional Championship was won by Doherty in 1997 with a memorable victory over Stephen Hendry in the final at The Crucible.

    Ken explains how it was pure chance that he even played in the 1989 World under 21 Championship. “I had no plans to go to the event. I was playing in the Pro Ticket events, trying to get my professional place. Someone told me about the World Junior event. They said it was open and anyone could enter. My friend ‘Curly Mick’ sponsored me and entered me, so I was able to go to Iceland.

    “I ended up winning the event, beating Jason Ferguson from England in the final. I gave my trophy to ‘Curly Mick’!

    “My first overseas trip had been in 1987, when we went to New Zealand for the IBSF Under 21s. It was won by England’s Jon Birch. Little did I know then that I would beat Birch to win the IBSF World Championship in 1989.

    “In 1989 I qualified again for the Pro Ticket, but lost in the final play off. But I won the Irish Amateur championship and that earned me an entry in the World Amateur Championship.

    “We (Ken and team mate Anthony O’Connor) were invited for a pre-World event in Malaysia to compete in a build up event. I won that and picked up $5,000 so I was in good spirits as we travelled on to Singapore.

    “I had to play Anthony in the quarter finals, which was unfortunate to play your team mate, but I won and went on to beat Hong Kong’s Frankie Chan, another good friend, in the semi final. Then I beat Jon Birch 11-2 in the final.

    “It was such a fantastic experience. It’s a great title to win. I was so lucky to get the chance to play in the IBSF events.

    “For any budding player, to represent your country is such a great honour. I will savour those memories for the rest of my life. They were great days, great camaradies.

    “I still meet some of the guys now and we always reminisce on the great memories.

     “It’s a real springboard and experience for your future career. It’s a different sense of pride to represent country, to put on the waistcoat, in your national colours. It’s very very special and nostalgic.

    “That victory earned me my place on the Professional Circuit. I was the number one amateur and should have played Fred Davis in the play off to get on the Pro Circuit, but Fred decided to retire, so I went straight into the Pro Ranks.

     “I felt like a seasoned traveller when I went to Singapore, but in 1986 when I was selected to go to New Zealand for the World Under 21s the furthest I’d ever been away from home was to England.

    “To go to New Zealand as a teenager was an amazing experience. Our RIBSA Official Gloria Ruane arranged the trip for us and she nearly put Jules Verne to shame!

    “We went across Asia, stopped in Singapore, then on to Sydney, from there to Auckland and on down to Invercargill for the event.

    “We returned home the other way round, visiting Hawaii and Los Angeles. It was a truly amazing trip.

    “My first IBSF World Championship in 1987 was in Bangalore and that was the first time I ever saw Thailand’s James Wattana play. We were both just seventeen years old.

    “I was beaten by Geet Sethi in the final match to get to last 16 in Bangalore.

    “I became good friends with Geet and James Wattana. We had a fantastic time. Also in the event was Joe Swail and another lad from Northern Ireland. We had an unbelievable time.

    “We had great fun, great social evenings and we were treated like kings by the Indian people. They are so respectful, lovely people and it was such a revelation to see different a culture and country. I was still in school. My teacher said you miss so many days. Sorry sir I have to go to India!

    “I’ve played so many of the players who are familiar names in IBSF Events. Yasin Merchant, Henry Boteju, we called him King Henry. I played Mohammed Youssef, so many players, so many memories.

    “Nowadays when I see young players like Adita Mehta and we talk about the older players we knew like Michael Ferreira.

    “Bangalore, it’s called Garden City, is a beautiful city. Then it was all bikes, I’ve been back since and now it’s all cars! It’s a very vibrant city. I was there two years ago. A twenty year gap. It’s changed so much.

    “I would love to go to Hyderabad. My wife Sarah has relations there. So it’s on my list of must visit cities.

    “I wish the organisers and the players all the very best for a successful tournament. Whether or not you lift the trophy I hope you return to your homes with very special memories and newly made friends.”