Ssb - doherty's bright start

[MySockPuppet]

Ken Doherty’s excellent start to the season suggests he has now adapted to life at the qualifiers and has managed to rediscover a positive frame of mind.

Wisely, Doherty played in just about everything he could in the run up to the Shanghai Masters and, nicely match fit, he eased through the wildcard round today with a 5-0 defeat of Adiyta Mehta.

The Dubliner began the new campaign 44th in the world rankings and a precarious 56th on the provisional list.

He won only two matches last season and just two frames in his four matches at Prestatyn.

For a player so used to the big arenas, Pontin’s was a come down but it looks like he’s over that now and that could spell trouble for some of the game’s top players.

Neil Robertson would not have chosen the ever tenacious Doherty as his first round opponent in Shanghai.

In short, Doherty has fallen about as far as he is going to – for now at least – and could be worth backing to turn a few of his younger rivals over in the season to come.


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[Looki]

Ken definitely is a better player than a commentator, not time for Ken to be John Parrott, at least not yet. I'm glad that he has managed to raise his game. Let's see how far it'll take him.

[Matt_2745]

Having seen how good he looked in the Pro Challenge event in Leeds I can't say that I'm too surprised to see him doing better, but it's great stuff all the same.

Hope he can get back into the 32 for next season and then maybe go for the 16 a year later. Not as easy as it sounds though.

[Templeton Peck]

He's at that age where he's losing consistency, so a return to the top 16 is going to be tough but 44th in the rankings is ridiculous for someone of his ability.

[spike]

Good to see him regaining some of his confidence and playing something like the Ken of old.

Of course it is early days & one shouldn't get too carried away at this early stage.
But if he can have a good run in the Shanghai Masters it could set him up for the rest of the season.