On today in snooker, Ken Doherty captured the fifth rating title of his profession on the 2001 Thailand Masters.
It was excellent timing, because the Dubliner accomplished the success on Eire’s most well-known vacation of St. Patrick’s Day.
Victory over Stephen Hendry in Bangkok, in what was a repeat of the World Championship closing from 4 years beforehand, got here when Doherty was producing among the finest snooker of his total profession.
The previous world novice champion had been ranked among the many finest gamers on this planet for a decade and famously ended Hendry’s five-year dominance on the Crucible in 1997.
However whereas he was an everyday presence on the enterprise finish of necessary occasions, the Irishman usually got here up simply quick when silverware was inside attain.
In early 2001, that utterly modified for a short spell when he managed to say back-to-back rating titles.
The then 31 year-old first emerged with the Welsh Open crown in January, beating the likes of Hendry, Mark Williams, and Paul Hunter in Cardiff.
With confidence excessive, Doherty took his newfound type to Asia for the very subsequent rating match in Thailand.
After beating Jimmy White within the first spherical, Doherty overcame countryman Fergal O’Brien and Pakistan’s Shokat Ali to succeed in the final 4.
Doherty then hammered John Parrott 5-1 within the semi-finals earlier than orchestrating a equally one-sided 9-3 victory towards Hendry to safe the title.
It was a candy flip of occasions, as 5 years earlier on the St. Patrick’s Day of 1996, Doherty was denied success within the Thailand Open by Alan McManus in a decider.
A month later and it appeared as if a hat-trick was on the playing cards as he surged his method by the sphere once more on the Scottish Open.
Nonetheless, regardless of at one level main 6-5, he would fall simply in need of the uncommon three-on-the-trot as Peter Ebdon pulled away within the closing for a 9-7 triumph.
Nonetheless, it was a memorable spell for Ken Doherty, and 21 years later the favored Darlin’ of Dublin continues to be competing on the skilled Essential Tour.
Featured photograph credit score: WST
