Ken Doherty, 1997 world champion, retires from main tour

Ken Doherty, the 1997 snooker world champion, has announced his retirement from the sport's main professional tour at the age of 56. The popular Irish player, who turned professional in 1990, said the decision felt right after a 36-year career at the highest level.

Doherty cited the increasing difficulty of competing against younger players as a primary reason for his decision. He acknowledged that a final goal of returning to the Crucible Theatre for the World Championship one more time, ideally in 2027 on the 30th anniversary of his title win, was now out of reach. He said the younger competitors have youth on their side and that qualifying had become too difficult.

The pinnacle of Doherty's career was his 1997 World Championship victory, where he defeated Stephen Hendry 18-12 in the final. Hendry was seeking a sixth consecutive world title at the time. Doherty recalled the pressure of that match, noting he knew it was a unique opportunity he could not afford to lose. He would go on to reach two more world finals, in 1998 and 2003, but did not secure another title.

His career achievements include six ranking tournament victories, among them the Welsh Open and Thailand Masters....