Can Ken-do it this year?

[Rane]

As he has ended in the strongest quarter, I don´t think he will get very far, actually I expect him to loose against Selby.

[Odrl]

Well, if he wins the World Championship by beating Selby, Hendry, O'Sullivan/Williams, and whomever he plays from the SF onwards, it will probably be the new toughest draw any World champion ever had.

Considering he plays Selby in the 1st round, an early exit seems the most likely. That's only one match though, so he does have a chance, especially as it's at the start of the tournament. He's already beaten Selby this season, and his ranking doesn't really represent his potential to play great snooker. That being said, Selby was a bit out of sorts at the Grand Prix, and chances are that he'll be at his best at the WC.

As for winning the tournament... That would be quite a shock. There is no reason why a 40-year-old can't play great snooker, but to win the WC, you need to hold it for 17 days and can't afford to have more than a session or two of snooker that is only "mediocre". In other words, you need to have the "edge", and that comes when you mature as a player and as a person, and goes away with physical decline or when you put your foot off the gas. Snooker events are won by players of different ages, from teenagers to players in their forties in extreme cases, but World champions have been a lot closer in age for more than two decades now.

So, while I don't think Ken Doherty has much chance of winning the tournament, I think he's still good enough to get through a couple of rounds. It's just a shame that he's in the ridiculously strong quarter this year. There are some parts of the draw that Ken Doherty could have enriched.

[Mal]

I think he is has a chance - he's fairly consistent at the WC over the years and it's only 4 years since he was provisionally world no.1. If he beats Selby, then Hendry - Doherty would be a close QF - Doherty has a very good record against Hendry - He has beat him about half the times they have played (and they have played over 30!). This is excellent considering lots of their match ups were in the 90s / early 00s.

Then Ronnie or Mark Williams probably and Doherty could push either of them if he is on form. The semis could be Mark Allen or Maguire. Doherty and Allen have history, so that would be intriguing. He is 100/1 to win, which I think is overpriced - Do I think he will do it - No, but he should be better odds than 100/1.

[wildJONESEYE]

I think he is has a chance - he's fairly consistent at the WC over the years and it's only 4 years since he was provisionally world no.1. If he beats Selby, then Hendry - Doherty would be a close QF - Doherty has a very good record against Hendry - He has beat him about half the times they have played (and they have played over 30!). This is excellent considering lots of their match ups were in the 90s / early 00s.

Then Ronnie or Mark Williams probably and Doherty could push either of them if he is on form. The semis could be Mark Allen or Maguire. Doherty and Allen have history, so that would be intriguing. He is 100/1 to win, which I think is overpriced - Do I think he will do it - No, but he should be better odds than 100/1.

then you woke up thinking god i dream about stupid things before going back to sleep

[Rane]

It's just a shame that he's in the ridiculously strong quarter this year. There are some parts of the draw that Ken Doherty could have enriched.

So right. The Robertson Higgins quarter wouldn´t have been much better, but in the other two draws I wouldn´t have been surprised at all if he did well.

[cazmac1]

I think ken at his best was up there with the very best the game has produced, but he would have to produce that kind of magic to beat selby.
Selby has youth and hunger on his side and will be one of the best prepared pro's for this event.:snooker:

[Mal]

then you woke up thinking god i dream about stupid things before going back to sleep

Well yes, I don't think it will happen, and if I had to put my house on it (which I don't) I'd back Selby, but Doherty is no mug and I think it will be close and you never know...

[1lawyer]

I hope he does ok then we don't have to listen to his commentary.

[Freddie Ng]

Would love to see him playing at his best form.

[ore]

I hope he does ok then we don't have to listen to his commentary.

same here
although I will probably enjoy plenty of mr.sinitsin commentary anyway..

id like to see him getting the chance then its another crucible quarter for the King

exactly - quarter. and since I woudn't mind Ronnie/Williams having a little more straight path to the final.. still if hendry lost maybe he would reconsider his solo practicing routines and would go for some match-practice with higgins or something. so I acctually wish well for hendry

but seriously if ken was to beat selby, it would have taken some form to accomplish that - then why not eat up Hendry afterwards?

wondering how much could be read from him beating swail 10-1 in the qualifiers, swail shoudn't have been a push-over.

[Mal]

[QUOTE=ore;483395]
but seriously if ken was to beat selby, it would have taken some form to accomplish that - then why not eat up Hendry afterwards?
QUOTE]

I think people are forgetting how good Doherty's record is against Hendry and I say that as a Hendry fan - How many other players have beaten Hendry 15+ times and got that good a percentage across that many games - probably only Williams and O'Sullivan?

[hotpot]

If he beats Selby then you have to fancy him agains Hendry . Kens record against Hendry is won 4 lost 7 .

Selby has only lost o Hendry once in five meetings .

[Mal]

If he beats Selby then you have to fancy him agains Hendry . Kens record against Hendry is won 4 lost 7 .

Selby has only lost o Hendry once in five meetings .

Agree about fancying him against Hendry IF he beats Mark - but not sure where you are getting Ken's record against Hendry as won 4 lost 7 - They have played well over 30 times! I'm not sure what the record is now, but I remember about 10 years ago, it was about 13 wins to Ken and 15 to Stephen and Ken had just won 3 on the trot against him in one season.

[hotpot]

http://www.snookerdatabase.co.uk/Hea...px?playerKey=2

[wildJONESEYE]

If he beats Selby then you have to fancy him agains Hendry . Kens record against Hendry is won 4 lost 7 .

Selby has only lost o Hendry once in five meetings .

despite hendry not playing his best at the moment he is still playing to a far higher level than ken sorry but if they meet now hendry will steamroll over him.