Ken Doherty - Our Man Friday!
Friday, 29 February 2008
Ken Doherty the Irish legendary snooker player is The Afternoon Show's man Friday! Ken was made a Dad for the first time in November '07! He is very much enjoying his new role of 'Daddy' and although he is experiencing sleepless nights, he is relishing fatherhood. Christian, his son, will be 13 weeks on Friday.
Ken is the winner of the World Snooker Championship in 1997 and a well loved Dubliner! He was also the first Irish man to win the Pot Black Championship.
He will be competing in the China Open from 24th - 30th March '08 and then the World Championships from 19th April to 5th May '08.
Ken Doherty Profile:
Ken made his first century break at 13 and was 17 when he scored his first 147.
Ken became the first world snooker champion from the Republic of Ireland in 1997.
Ken has the distinction of being the only player ever to have won both the amateur and Professional World Championships.
Born in Hollis Street Hospital in 1969. He is one of a family of four.
First snooker cue at age 10 but wasn't allowed into the local snooker club so he had to wait until his older brother would take him on Sundays. At the age of 13 he was beginning to show promise and talent yet he couldn't afford to splurge his pocket money on playing the game.
The manager, Andy Collins agreed to allow the young prodigy to play for free and then the club began to sponsor him in a local tournament, the Irish U. 16 senior league.
It was because of this support that he felt he got to where he is today.
He accepted a job at Jason's and this move placed him a little closer to his heroes.
Ken is also a keen footballer and has regularly played for soccer for St Columbus College.
He loves playing poker and won the Sky Sports Poker Challenge in Feb '07.
Career:
Ken's string of successes as an amateur proved his ability and tenacity and he turned professional in 1990.
1993 and the Welsh Open for him to win his first ranking title. He is renowned as a tough opponent and he became the winner of the 1997 World Championship. At The Crucible where he proved to himself and his critics that he could produce the goods when he beat Stephen Hendry 18 -12 in the final to claim the trophy.
This made him the first player ever to win both the world amateur and the world professional championships.
1997 / 98. In 1997/98, he experienced a bit of an anti-climax and he struggled to find form. He defeated John Higgins in the Malta Grand Prix and reached the semi-finals of the Thailand Masters, losing 5-4 to Hendry.
1998 In March 1998 he was runner-up to Ronnie O'Sullivan in the B&H Irish Masters, but was later awarded the title when O'Sullivan failed a drugs test and was stripped of his title and prize money.
2001 Ken married his wife Sarah in Australia in 2001. They met while she was studying here in Dublin.
Stats:
Ken has had 245 career centuries meaning that in all of these games he has scored over 100 points.
His team is Highland Spring
Ken's highest points in a game are 145points which is amazing as the highest is 147. Very rare to get a 147.
Ken - The charity Man:
Ken works with two charities - Goal (assists on the PR side of things) and Make A Wish Foundation - he is an ambassador of the charity.
He was given an award by the Make A Wish Foundation for his contribution to the charity. It was awarded to him on the 10th of November at the Mansion House Crystal Ball.
Glenn's wish took place in May 2006 (Make a Wish Stills). It was to meet and play a game of snooker with Ken Doherty, in full dress code in the Spawell Golf and Leisure Club. He was introduced to Jimmy White and Ronnie Woods from the Rolling Stones.