EXCLUSIVE Interview with Ken Doherty - 1997 World Champion

Doherty winning 1997 World Championship

Ken Doherty has an amazing career. He is the only player who have won World Amatuer 

(1989), World Under 21(1989) and of couse the World Championship (1997). He was the 

third player from outside the United Kingdom to win become 1997 world champion by 

beating Stephen Hendry 18-12 in the final.

The Irishman plays with a warped cue in his entire career. It was randomly selected from 

the cue rack in his snooker local club. The cue helped him to win 17 professional titles and 

reach 3 world finals.

However the maximum break is one of the nightmares for Ken. It was very close to be 

completed at a moment. In the 2000 Masters Ken attempted a maximum break in the final 

against Matthew Stevens. The Irish missed the easy final black off its spot at 140 - If he'd 

potted the black, he would have won the £80,000 sports car and completed his first 

maximum break in the career. Eventually Doherty even lost the final 8-10, became the 

runner-up for the second year in a row. 

Ken opened his own Academy in Dublin recently, Ken Doherty
Snooker Academy to help produce Ireland's next snooker 
champion. The Academy provides training coaching for all 
snooker players. http://www.kendoherty.ie/

I had a short section of interview with Ken recently. We talked 

about everything, including snooker, his life off the table and outlook for the new season :)

Kelly: Hi Ken, Congratulations on your newly opened snooker academy! It’s great that

your academy will offer coaching for all snooker players. Have you found a particular

player that you found he has the potential to become a snooker champion?

Ken: I have not found a potential champion just yet but we are just starting and I 

am confident that I will! :)

Kelly: Do you think your project can help the development?

Ken: I think I can help, any club with a really good enviroment and good table 

conditions that also offers coaching can only encourage new talent to emerge.

Kelly: What is your child memory of playing snooker? When did you first fall into love 

with it?

Ken: I first started to play on the full size tables when i was 8 years old. I loved 

watching Pot Black and the World Championship every year. I mostly watched 

with my dad, he was a Ray Reardon fan, Alex Higgins was mine. ;)

Kelly: I am really interested in your cue. I heard that it only cost you £2 and you 

randomly selected from the cue rank in your local snooker club. Tell me more about 

your cue!

Ken: I still play with my £2 cue i picked up in Jasons 30 years ago. Somebody had 

left it behind them and never returned, the £2 was for the manager as a pay off 

to keep quiet.

Kelly: Have you had any funny moments while working on the snooker, either on or 

off camera?

Ken: I first started to play on the full size tables when I was 8 years but needed a 

biscuit tin to stand on. Funny thing was when I started to beat guys much older 

than me, the biscuit tin went missing! 

Kelly: Please share with us what other stuffs you love to do off the table. I heard that 

you like playing poker, do you play it with other players?

Ken: I also love other sports and still play soccer 
every Monday. When I am home, I poker, golf 
and watching Manchester United.

Kelly: Just now we had a 2-month season break before 
the new season start. What did you do in these two months? 

Ken: I spent my time with the family, I miss my home life when I am away so I try 

and make it up when I am back.

Kelly: I know that you are are going to Thailand to play world cup for Ireland next 

month, partner with Fergal O'Brien. It must be great to play for your home country! 

Do you guys practice together to prepare for the doubles? It’s been a while to play doubles, isn’t it?

Ken: Looking forward to the World Cup in July, hardly ever play doubles now but 

would love to see a doubles tournament on TV again. I think Fergal and I will be a 

good partnership.

Kelly: Please share with us the title you are most proud of (Except the World Championship :D)

 Ken: Apart from winning the World Championship in 1997, my proudest other victory came in Malta 2006. I beaten John Higgins from 8-5 down in the final and 

    winning 9-8. (It was the first title he won in 5 years)

Kelly：Ken you did a brilliant job on PTC Grand Final in Ireland, I really enjoy your 

presentation. Any more chance to be a presenter in the future?

Ken: PTC final in Dublin was great and a new experience for me being the MC, I 

really enjoyed it. I hope it's on again there next year but with me playing this 

time!

Kelly: I know you may found this question tough to answer. Do you prefer being a 

player or commentator, or both? How’s it feel in the commentary box?

Ken: Commentary is fun and I have a great time with 
all the other pundits, it doesn't feel like work at all.

Kelly: Okay here are some questions about the current 
snooker development. Barry Hearn did plenty reform in the game. How do you think 
about the new ranking systems and the new overseas tournaments? 

Ken: Barry Hearn has done a great job so far, more tournaments, a better ranking 

system that promotes current form and developing new horizons overseas 

including Australia and Brazil.

Kelly: Did you enter the coming PTC events? Are you excited with the new season? 

Ken: The PTCs have been a revelation so far as the keep all the players playing all 

year round. We really feel like full time professionals now.

Kelly: At last I have some short questions for you. Let’s do them quickly. What kind of 

atmosphere you enjoy playing in?

Ken: Goffs was my favorite tournament for atmosphere however nothing beats the 

Crucible for tension and drama and excitement.

Kelly: What`s your favourite animal? Do you keep any pets at your home?

Ken: Siberian Tiger. We have two King Charles Spaniels,Toffee n Fudge.

Kelly: Your favourite actor/actresss?

Ken: De Niro, Pacino, Jack Nicholson. Angelina Jolie and Cate Blanchett

Kelly: Your favourite country in the world?

Ken: Australia

Kelly: Do you have any inspiration quotations?


Ken: Dream as if you will live forever, 
live as if you will die tomorrow. - James Dean

Kelly: The craziest thing you have done?

Ken: I am crafty Ken I don't do crazy!!!! LOL

    Ken is a really nice guy. I love his character very much. This interview is done before the Australian Open Qualifying started. And now Ken is qualified for the Australian Open which will be held in the next month. Ken will be going to his favourite place in the world! Best of luck to Ken for the new coming season! :)

    Ken has a last word for his fans: A big hello and thank you for all your support over the years! Hope you will keep following me for the next few years, see you at the next tournament. :)

A short chat with Mark Williams

Recently Mark Williams had a short online chat with his Chinese fans on Chinese Weibo (some sites like Twitter in China). The Chinese fans raised some very interesting question to have Mark answered. I have translated the questions from Chinese to English for your convenience! :)


Mark's game


Fans: A few season ago you was at the trough of your career but now you are at the top again! How did you do it?

Mark: I got back up the rankings by shear hard work and practicing as long as I could, and started to get my confidance back by doing that.

Fans: You had a remarkable performance in the last season, what are looking for in the next season? There are new overseas ranking events, do you think it is beneficial to players? 


Mark: I just want to try and do the best I can and hopefully stay up the rankings, but if I could manage to win the World Championship once more that would be the icing on the cake for me. As I love playing in China and have a good record there and other overseas events.

Fans: What will you do when you are behind in the match?

Mark: I try my best not to get too down or dissapointed with myself too much otherwise you are helping your opponent to beat you.

Fans: Describe your playing style.

Mark: I think I'm more calmer and relaxed than any other player, and I think that helps me when the pressure situations arise. Not too sure if I'm more attacking than ronnie, not much in it.

Fans: Your most memorable match?

Mark: My most memorable must be without doubt is beating Stephen Hendry on a respotted black 10-9 in the Benson and Hedges Masters (1998) in Wembley.

Mark's opinion


Fans: The UK Championship of this season will have a new format that matches before semi-final reduced to best of 11 frames. Do you think there will be more short matches in the matches? What influence will it bring to players?


Mark: I am not in favour of it and neither would most of the top pros like as the top boys would say that you have more time to get into a match, but as we got Barry Hearn in to shake our game up, we got to support him 100% and go along with it.


Fans: Tell us about Judd Trump.


Mark: Judd trump is an excellent player but needs to keep improving and practicing hard and not let the last couple of tournaments get to him.




Fans: In the new generation of players, which four are you in favour of?


Mark: My top 4 players in the world to come would be something like Ding, Trump, Selby, Murphy. With either of those capable of winning lots of competitions.


Fans: Who is your favourite player?


Mark: My favourite snooker player was Jimmy White growing up, but now my favourite to watch now is Ronnie.

Fans: You were defeated by Li Yan in PTC1, how did you think about that game? 

Mark: I lost 4-3 to him and he played very well, I am not one for excuses but with the wedding etc. I never played much, but what I seen of him he has very good potential and one for the future.  

Mark's life outside snooker


Fans: As we know, you play with your left hand. How about eating, holding pens or iphones?


Mark: I eat, use iphone with left hand, also write left hand, I throw play golf and darts right hand.  

Fans: Can you play with your right hand?

Mark: I am terrible playing with my right hand, I prefer to put my cue under my body to play a shot rather than try and play with my right.

Fans: Besides as being a snooker player, I know you was a boxer before you turned professional. What other sports do you like?

Mark: I like playing five a side football, bit of golf not as much as i used to though, fishing, but nothing beats getting out on my motorbike when the weather is nice and warm.