{"id":12420,"date":"2026-06-04T02:14:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T02:14:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=12420"},"modified":"2026-06-04T02:14:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T02:14:18","slug":"snooker-legend-ken-doherty-retires-as-he-admits-defeat-over-final-goal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=12420","title":{"rendered":"Snooker legend Ken Doherty retires as he admits defeat over final goal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 300px 160px; gap: 2px; width: 460px; background: #eee; padding: 2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u6574\u884c\u5bbd\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876674\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 90px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876676\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u7ad6\u6392 -->\r\n  <div style=\"height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876672\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"height: 500px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876680\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u6469\u5929\u697c\uff08\u548c\u5de6\u4fa7\u5b8c\u5168\u5bf9\u9f50\uff09 -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row: 3\/5; height: 750px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876678\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e6\" data-zoneid=\"5876682\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2209348317.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28278869\" alt=\"World Championship Qualifiers 2025 - Day 3\" decoding=\"sync\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Ken Doherty is stepping away from professional snooker (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Former world champion Ken Doherty has retired from professional snooker at 56 years old, accepting that his final goal in the game is out of reach.<\/p>\n<p>The Darlin of Dublin has carved out a superb career on the baize, with the pinnacle being his Crucible triumph over Stephen Hendry in the 1997 final.<\/p>\n<p>The Irishman reached two more World Championship finals, and while he narrowly missed out on another Triple Crown success, he made it to three UK Championship finals and two Masters showpieces.<\/p>\n<p>A World Under-21 champion and World Amateur champion in 1989, he turned professional in 1990 and won six ranking events, reaching a peak in the rankings of number two.<\/p>\n<p>The inevitable slide down the rankings came, though, and since 2017 Doherty has been playing on the main circuit thanks to invitational tour cards.<\/p>\n<p>There has still been the odd bit of brilliance, but results have been difficult to come by and Crafty Ken is hanging up his cue when it comes to the professional game.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tAre you snooker loopy?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p>You&#8217;re in the right place. I&#8217;m Phil Haigh, and I cover the game we all love for <strong>Metro<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>In my newsletter, The Table, I analyse the biggest talking points, pull back the curtain on the sport and crown the biggest winners and losers every week.<\/p>\n<p>Sign up here.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"646\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/FB-MAIN-8adc.png?w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27997408\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Phil has been reporting on snooker for over a decade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u2018It\u2019s come to that time and I\u2019ve decided to call it a day on the main tour,\u2019 Doherty told the Irish Independent.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2209853929_361d7a.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28353111\" alt=\"World Championship Qualifiers 2025 - Day 5\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Doherty has been on the pro tour since 1990 (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018I\u2019m still going to play on the seniors, but on the main tour, the time has come.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I probably should have hung up the cue a few years ago. But I just love the game, love playing, doing the exhibitions.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018That will never change, but it\u2019s just time to call an end to the career and say that\u2019s enough.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>The immensely popular commentator and pundit says he was continuing to play with the aim of turning out at the Crucible for the World Championship one last time.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"429\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-1619105.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28628358\" alt=\"Ken Doherty\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Doherty upset the odds to win the 1997 World Championship (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>2027 would have been the ideal time to do it, 30 years on from his greatest triumph, but he has accepted that coming through qualifying is just too difficult a task at this stage of his career.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018The goal was always just to play finally at the Crucible for one more year, and 2027 is the anniversary, but I just don\u2019t think I\u2019m able to do it any more. That\u2019s the problem. The guys are too good,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018There\u2019s so many young guys coming up. They have the youth on the side. I don\u2019t any more.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018You\u2019re beating your head against a brick wall and it\u2019s just not going to happen. I enjoy doing the broadcasting as well, so I\u2019ll be there next year, whatever happens.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Crafty Ken last qualified for the Crucible in 2014, beating Stuart Bingham in the opening round before losing to Alan McManus.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2071867771.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28628353\" alt=\"TOPSHOT-SNOOKER-THA-FINAL\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Doherty was a regular in the world\u2019s top 16 for over 15 years (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Doherty added: \u2018I\u2019ve had a great time. I want to thank everybody, obviously, for all the support over the years. It\u2019s been magnificent, not only here in Ireland, but all over the world.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Retirement has been on the mind of the Dubliner for a while, telling <strong>Metro<\/strong> two years ago that he was considering hanging up his cue during a match.<\/p>\n<p>Doherty led Oliver Lines 4-0 in German Masters qualifying, before being pegged back to 4-4 and then producing a superb break of 66 to win the decider from 53-0 behind.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I was sat in my chair at times of that match thinking, do I really want to do this? Going through the mill,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify\">\n<p>\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Talking Snooker Episode 103 - Masters 2023 preview with Ken Doherty\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/episode\/2b4laHUnGs7sJYEdqMOgcJ?utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\u2018I\u2019ve had wonderful times as a player, but I was sitting there while he was coming back at me and I couldn\u2019t play how I used to play and thinking maybe it\u2019s time to call it a day.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Then I win the last frame with that clearance, it\u2019s given me another boost. It was tough, you\u2019re soul-searching in your chair, you\u2019ve got plenty of time to ponder when you\u2019re missing so many balls!<\/p>\n<p>\u2018They\u2019re the ups and downs of being a snooker player, all in the space of a best of 9 frames. That\u2019s what you sign up for, the good and the not so good. You have to just control it and enjoy it, hate it and enjoy it again.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Much-loved for his sense of humour, Doherty added: \u2018I tell you what, I\u2019m 55, I came off the table feeling about 65.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I was 4-0 up and coasting, then I was collapsing like an MFI wardrobe. It was frightening!<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I made an unbelievable clearance to win on the black. I don\u2019t know where it came from, I think it came from 1997!\u2019<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"594\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-1916143.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=594\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28630400\" alt=\"Ken Doherty\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Doherty became a hero in Ireland in the 1990s (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Obviously it is not a German Masters qualifier in 2024 that Doherty will be best remembered for on the table, but his World Championship triumph and the attention it drew in Ireland.<\/p>\n<p>Even Dublin\u2019s criminals were busy watching him beat Hendry, much to the delight of local police.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Everybody in Ireland seemed to watch it,\u2019 Doherty told the Irish Post. \u2018The Chief Superintendent told me that I should be on the telly more often as it would make his job a hell of a lot easier.\u2019<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<p>\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe title=\"Ken Doherty&amp;apos;s Finest Moment | 1997 World Championship Final\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Kg-ZRzWmLrk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>There was a homecoming parade for Doherty as he returned with the World Championship trophy, of which he added: \u2018I wasn\u2019t expecting it.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I was there in 1990 when the football team came back home. Them homecomings were usually only for Olympic champions and the national sides. I didn\u2019t think snooker would have the same impact but it did.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018It was amazing to come through Dublin with all the cars beeping and people hanging out of windows.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Future of snooker\u2019s Q School under review but \u2018important role\u2019 will remain<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Stephen Hendry predicts snooker\u2019s next first time major winner<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Stephen Hendry recalls how \u2018smirking\u2019 Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan left him fuming<\/span><\/p>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom\">\n\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Comment now<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-comment\" href=\"#social-comment\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-preferred-source\" href=\"#social-preferred-source\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-preferred-source__label\">Add as preferred source<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/section>\n<div class=\"newsletter-end-card accent--snooker\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-end-card__inner\">\n<h4>The Table<\/h4>\n<p>Stay ahead of snooker&#8217;s next big break with Metro&#8217;s resident expert Phil Haigh in his new weekly newsletter.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- \u603b\u5bb9\u5668\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u5bbd908px Grid\u7d27\u51d1\u5e03\u5c40 -->\r\n<div style=\"display: grid; 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display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t\r\n<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114303\" data-width=\"125\" data-height=\"125\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114303});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u7ad6\u680f\uff1a160\u00d7600 \u6574\u5217\u9ad8\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row:3\/8; height:600px;  display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114301\" data-width=\"160\" data-height=\"600\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114301});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<br \/> Snooker legend Ken Doherty retires as he admits defeat over final goal<br \/>\n<br \/>#Snooker #legend #Ken #Doherty #retires #admits #defeat #final #goal<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ken Doherty is stepping away from professional snooker (Picture: Getty Images) Former world champion Ken&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12421,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[1635,316,9036,453,567,6317,456,8597,418],"class_list":["post-12420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-admits","tag-defeat","tag-doherty","tag-final","tag-goal","tag-ken","tag-legend","tag-retires","tag-snooker"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2209348317_1780504161.jpg",1200,630,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2209348317_1780504161-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2209348317_1780504161-300x158.jpg",300,158,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2209348317_1780504161-768x403.jpg",640,336,true],"large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2209348317_1780504161-1024x538.jpg",640,336,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2209348317_1780504161.jpg",1200,630,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2209348317_1780504161.jpg",1200,630,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2209348317_1780504161-1115x630.jpg",1115,630,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2209348317_1780504161-800x500.jpg",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2209348317_1780504161-1024x538.jpg",1024,538,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2209348317_1780504161-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2209348317_1780504161-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?cat=6\" rel=\"category\">Sports<\/a>","tag_info":"Sports","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12420"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12420\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}