Ken Doherty backs Antrim man with 'best chance' of…

Ken Doherty backs Antrim man with 'best chance' of World Snooker Championship title

Former world champion Ken Doherty believes Mark Allen might not have a better chance to win this year’s World Championship.

Dubliner Doherty famously won the cherished Crucible crown in 1997 – and he’s been mightily impressed with Northern Irishman Allen this season.

Player of the season Allen is sitting pretty at world No 2 in the provisional ranking list having won THREE major titles this season. And Dubliner Doherty believes now is the time to cash in when it counts the most.

The Pistol was pitted against Chinese debutant Fan Zhengyi, last season's European Masters champion, in Thursday's live draw.

“He’s been the player of the season, there’s no doubt about that,” said Doherty.

“He’s miles ahead on the one-year list and won three really big tournaments, so you’ve really got to fancy his chances.

Mark Allen celebrates his UK Championship victory with wife Aideen Cassidy (PA)

“He should be going to Sheffield full of confidence, you could argue there’s not a better time for him to try and win it given the form he’s in and showed this season.

“It might be his best chance, it will be interesting to see how he performs.”

Allen’s best showing at snooker’s showpiece event was reaching the semi-finals in 2009 – and he’s progressed to three quarter-finals since then.

But the 37-year-old Antrim ace has dazzled this season by first defending his Northern Ireland Open title, followed by winning the UK Championship – one of snooker’s major Triple Crown tournaments – and also the prestigious World Grand Prix.

And that success has come on the back of marital, custody and financial problems which threatened to prematurely end his distinguished career.

“He seems to have got his life back and sorted out a lot of his problems, which is good to see,” added Doherty.

“He’s also lost 5 or 6 stone in weight, which I’m sure has helped in and will help him in Sheffield because it’s such long matches – and such a long tournament.

“Sheffield is very mentally and physically demanding, but I think he’s got all the attributes needed to deal with those demands.

“The question is whether or not he candle the pressure? I think he can!

“He’s showed this season in pressure situations he can deal with pressure – and he knows how to close out matches to win titles.

“He’s a very confident, aggressive player. If he plays his natural game then he has every chance of winning the title. He’s got all the hallmarks of a world champion.”

Dennis Taylor was the last Northern Irishman to win the world title, way back in 1985 when he beat six-time winner Steve Davis in a now legendary final that was deciding on the final black ball.

And with compatriot Alex Higgins having twice won the world title – amazingly a decade apart – Doherty knows Allen would write his name in folklore if he could become his country’s third world champion.

“People talk about luck over the course of the tournament, but luck shouldn’t really come into it over best of 19 frame matches, it’s about how good you are,” stressed Doherty.
“And Mark is a very, very good player. It’s about the cream rising to the top, he’ll be determined to give it his best shot this year.”

Full draw:

Ronnie O'Sullivan (1) v Pang Junxu

Ding Junhui (16) v Hossein Vafaei

Luca Brecel (9) v Ricky Walden

Mark Williams (8) v Jimmy Robertson

Judd Trump (5) v Anthony McGill

Jack Lisowski (12) v Noppon Saengkham

Robert Milkins (13) v Joe Perry

Shaun Murphy (4) v Si Jiahui

Mark Allen (3) v Fan Zhengyi

Stuart Bingham (14) v David Gilbert

Ali Carter (11) v Jak Jones