Ken Doherty announces retirement with 1997 Crucible champion 'humbled' by support - 'It's the right time'
Published 03/06/2026 at 12:07 GMT+1
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Former snooker world champion Ken Doherty has called time on his golden 36-year professional career at the age of 56, with the Irishman describing himself as "humbled" by the support he has received.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
The popular Dublin potter famously claimed the world title in 1997 with an 18-12 win over Stephen Hendry, hit 360 career centuries and was ranked as high as world No. 2 20 years ago.
"I probably should have done it years ago to be honest," Doherty told RTE in 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."
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Doherty, who turned professional in 1990, was handed a wild card to compete on the main tour in 2017, but has split his time between playing and punditry work in recent years.
He retires from the main tour having won six ranking titles, including two Welsh Open, the Thailand Masters and a couple of tournament victories in Malta.
He also reached the UK final three times and two Masters finals at the old Wembley Conference Centre.
Doherty could continue to compete on the seniors circuit alongside fellow ranking event winners Dominic Dale and Joe Perry, who both opted to hang up their cues last year.
Doherty's greatest moment came against the Crucible’s most formidable winner in Hendry, whose seven titles between 1990-1999 has only been matched by Ronnie O'Sullivan.
”For me in 1997, when the opportunity came along, I was playing the greatest player to have ever played at the Crucible," he told TNT Sports.
"He was unbeaten at the Crucible and was going for six in a row, but even then when I was only seven years a professional, I thought to myself: 'This is your opportunity, don’t lose it because you may not get another opportunity.'
”It took the pressure off me. I had such a great year with the trophy and being world champion, I didn’t want to give it back."
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