Ken Doherty has decided to put an end to his professional career. At 56, he feels that he isn’t good enough anymore to play at the standard he wants to play at. He is, to this day, the greatest player the Republic of Ireland has produced and the only player in snooker history to have won the world under-21, world amateur and world professional champion.

Off the table, Ken is a likeable character, who, like most Irish guys I met, is easy to talk to, amiable and … loves his Guinness.

I’m wishing Ken the very best for the future, and success in whatever he wants to do from here. He has nothing to prove.

Here is the announcement shared by WST.

Irish Snooker Legend Doherty Calls Time On Career

1997 World Champion Ken Doherty has announced his retirement from professional snooker, bringing the curtain down on a magnificent 36-year career.

After dropping off the circuit at the conclusion of last season, the 56-year-old has decided to call time on a professional journey which saw him amass six ranking titles. He remains the Republic of Ireland’s only World Champion and was his country’s first ranking event winner.

In the wake of hanging up his cue, Doherty admits that although it was a difficult decision he feels it was the correct one.

Doherty said: “It was sad initially when I made the decision, but I’m happy with it now. I wasn’t going anywhere and even if I played for another couple of years, I’d come to the realisation I wasn’t going to get any better. I wasn’t going to compete like I used to.

“I probably should have done it a few years ago, but I love the game. I love competing and I love playing. I was hoping something would change but it didn’t. I’ve had a great time playing and have some wonderful memories. I’m going to miss it for sure, but it has come as a relief.“

The Dubliner moved to London in the late 80s to pursue a snooker career and after winning both the World Under-21 Championship and the World Amateur Championship in 1989, he turned professional in 1990. Doherty reflects on this period as a crucial moment in his development and an exciting stage in his career.

“I came over with a cue, my bag and £500 in my pocket. That was all I had. I was seeking my dreams and didn’t know what to expect. A man called Curly Mick paid for me to play that World Under-21 Championship in Iceland, he said he thought I could win it.

“I beat Jason Ferguson in the final and gave the Curly Mick the trophy to take back to his mates for a few pictures. I never saw him again! They were exciting times. I played with the guys I watched on television like Steve Davis and Jimmy White. It was magnificent.“

Doherty’s first ranking title came in 1993, when he defeated Alan McManus 9-7 in the Welsh Open final. This allowed the Irishman to break into the world’s top 16 for the first time, a run which would be unbroken for 15 years. During this time he enjoyed his finest hour.

The 1997 World Championship saw Doherty defeat Mark Davis, Steve Davis and John Higgins to make the semis, before a 17-7 demolition of Canadian Alain Robidoux took him to his first Crucible final.

Doherty was pitted against the imperious Stephen Hendry, who was on a five-year win streak at the Theatre of Dreams. He achieved what, at the time, seemed impossible and beat Hendry 18-12 to lift the sport’s biggest prize. It was a win which transfixed a nation and it was reported that there were no arrests on the streets of Dublin during the final session.

“When I first picked up a cue as a kid, winning the World Championship was my dream. After Alex Higgins winning it in 1982 and Dennis Taylor in 1985, these were inspirational moments for me. To emulate what they achieved and lift that cup up was a real honour and a sense of pride. To do that with a £2 cue and beating Stephen Hendry in the final was just amazing,” recalled Doherty.

“It was daunting playing him. He’d won 29 matches in a row at the Crucible and was going for number 30. I was a huge underdog, but I had a belief that I could do it. I went there, relaxed and played some of the best snooker of my life. To beat him in the final, when he looked almost unbeatable, makes the win even sweeter. To beat the best on the greatest stage, it doesn’t get better than that. I then came home and took the trophy on top of a bus in front of 250,000 people in the city centre. You couldn’t dream it up. For that to be afforded to a snooker player says a lot about our country.

“When I’m at the Crucible now commentating, or filming a piece on the floor, I look at the chair and I think of the young kid that won the World Championship. I was only 27 back then. I remember it fondly and those memories will never leave me. I won’t forget those great times. You can’t put a price on something like that.“

He mounted a valiant attempt to break the Crucible Curse 12 months later, reaching the final before an 18-12 reverse at the hands of Higgins. Doherty’s last appearance in a world final came in 2003. He battled back from 15-9 down to beat Paul Hunter 17-16 in the semis, but lost 18-16 to Mark Williams in the title match.

Doherty is a two-time Masters finalist, losing to Higgins in 1999 and Matthew Stevens in 2000. Famously, Doherty spurned the final black for a 147 maximum break against Stevens. He was also runner-up at the UK Championship in 2001 and 2002.

The last of Doherty’s six ranking titles came at the 2006 Malta Cup, where he defeated Higgins 9-8 to clinch silverware one more time. Doherty’s final match on tour was a 10-5 defeat against Patrick Whelan at this year’s World Championship.

He leaves a legacy as the Republic of Ireland’s greatest ever player and one of the sport’s finest ambassadors. Doherty is now a top pundit and commentator and is a member of the WPBSA Players Board.

WST CEO Simon Brownell said: “My best wishes go to Ken in his retirement. I want to thank him for everything he has done for our wonderful sport. Ken’s exploits on the baize have made him a hero to fans around the world. He will go down as one of the Republic of Ireland’s greatest sportspeople and his win at the 1997 World Championship is etched in the history of snooker. I know Ken will continue to represent snooker amazingly well as one of our top broadcasters.”

WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson said: “I want to thank Ken for being such a tremendous flagbearer for our sport. He hangs up his cue as a trailblazer for Irish snooker. Ken’s conduct on the tour as a competitor, as a broadcaster and a member of the WPBSA Players Board have seen him become a global ambassador who is adored by millions. I am proud to have shared the table with Ken and I look forward to continuing to work with him away from the match arena.”