Missing Five Grand 147 Pot Fails To Kill Kenny

Former champion Ken Doherty thrashed Joe Swail 10-1 in the final qualifying round to book his place at next month’s World Championships at the Crucible.
The Dubliner, 40, who failed to qualify last year, romped into an 8-1 first-session lead before wrapping up victory without fuss after the resumption.
“I was in tears almost last year when I lost,” said the 1997 champion.”I always thought it was a premature end, it couldn’t be like that and I had a lot more to offer,” he added.Doherty is the only non-British player other than Cliff Thorburn to win the world title but lost in last year’s qualifiers to end a 15-year run at the championships.”I didn’t know where my game was going and it was a real down time for me,” said Doherty, who had slipped to 44 in the world rankings but now looks sure to get back among the top 32.Doherty had the chance of a 147 break in the 10th frame against Northern Irishman Swail but a kick on the 11th red left him awkward on the black, which he overcut as the break ended on 81.A maximum would have been worth £5,000 in prize money, however Doherty, who had ousted the iconic Jimmy White in the second qualifying round, was more than happy with a place in Thursday’s draw for the televised stages.
A day after 52-year-old six-time champion Steve Davis earned his 30th appearance in the first round with a 10-4 win over Adrian Gunnell, Doherty paid tribute to both ‘The Nugget’ and ‘The Whirlwind’.
“You look at Steve Davis and the way he played yesterday and he’s five or six years older than Jimmy White and John Parrott. You could take a lot of leaves out of Steve Davis’s book.I take a lot of inspiration from the likes of Steve and Jimmy. They’re great characters, they’ve been great players and ambassadors and have a great determination and grit – and that was obvious the way Steve qualified and how Jimmy keeps coming back for more.”
Parrott, 45, indicated he will quit the sport after his qualifying loss to Chinese teenager Anda Zhang. However, Doherty urged the 1991 world champion to have a rethink.”John Parrott is a true champion and I hope he reconsiders retirement because I think he still has a lot to offer the game. Jimmy is the same as well. He says he’s going to give it one more year but I think there’s plenty of life,” Doherty said.

Bob "The Voice" McKenzie Twitter: @BobTheVoice About: