The previous World Snooker Champion gained the distinguished title utilizing an affordable cue purchased with cash borrowed from his mum.
The Irish snooker star gained the title with an affordable cue (Picture: Getty)
Ken Doherty gained the World Snooker Championship utilizing an affordable £2 cue which he purchased with cash borrowed from his mom. The previous snooker star watched on as Wu Yize grew to become the second-youngest winner of the title towards seasoned professional Shaun Murphyat the weekend. The 22-year-old beat the Englishman 18-17 to clinch his first-ever World Championship.
However nearly 30 years in the past, Doherty grew to become a nationwide hero after defeating the game’s dominant participant, Stephen Hendry, within the 1997 closing. The Irish icon got here so near defending the distinguished title the next 12 months – and overcoming the ‘Crucible curse’ within the course of – solely to lose to John Higgins within the deciding match. Nonetheless, the snooker star nonetheless achieved greatness utilizing a forgotten cue left behind at a membership in his native metropolis of Dublin. The bar proprietor had demanded a price of £5 for the discarded cue, however a younger and savvy Doherty managed to swindle two events with a trick.
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This £2 cue has confirmed to be a treasure to Doherty, with a World Championship crown plus six rating titles to his identify. Chatting with ITV in 2025, the favored BBC pundit stated: “I nonetheless have the cue. I modified cue only recently, simply to attempt it out. However I’ve had my £2 cue since 1981. I’ve had it since about 10 years of age.
“I picked it up off the pool rack, I performed with it after any person had left it behind. I stated to the supervisor, ‘If no one comes again, can I preserve this cue?’ In his broad Dublin accent, he stated, ‘Give us a fiver for it.’
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“I acquired a fiver off my mom. I put £2 on this pocket, £3 on this pocket and went again. I stated my mom couldn’t afford the £5, that she solely had £2. I put my hand on this pocket and took out the £2. He seemed on the cue, he seemed on the £2 and he says, ‘Give me the £2.’
Ken Doherty beat Stephen Hendry utilizing a £2 cue (Picture: Getty)
“I gained the World Junior Championship, I gained the World Beginner Championship and I gained the World Skilled Championship with a £2 cue. I feel it was good worth! Fortunately nobody got here again to gather the cue.”
Doherty reaped the rewards of his spectacular World Championship victory, being welcomed dwelling to Dublin with an open-top bus tour. He instructed the Day by day Star in 2024: “After I got here dwelling, there was an open-top bus tour by town centre and a reception on the Mansion Home.
“The lord mayor introduced me with a cut-glass trophy, there have been large crowds exterior, individuals lining the streets with flags and banners saying ‘Welcome dwelling champ.’
“These kind of homecomings are solely granted to Olympic champions or the nationwide soccer workforce, so I used to be fairly honoured and humbled by it. I didn’t suppose it will have such an affect on the nation. It was fantastic, what desires are manufactured from.”
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