KEN Doherty was understandably delighted to be back at the Crucible after a 10-5 win over Thailand’s Dechawat Poomjaeng in the final qualifier, a stage where the Irishman has suffered bitter disappointment on a couple of occasions. Last year Doherty, at 44, the oldest competitor in this year’s event, lost 10-9 to Matt Selt just one win away and he also once lost 10-6 to Jimmy Robertson having led 6-3, losing the last seven frames. The Dubliner was in two minds about whether or not to kneel down and kiss the floor of the hallowed building once again – but egged on by MC Rob Walker on Saturday morning he was tipped over the edge and gleefully repeated the gesture before his match against Stuart Bingham.
Photographs by Monique Limbos