Ken Doherty: Ronnie O'Sullivan Vs Ali Carter Is The 'Worst Draw' For Both Men
With the 2025 Snooker World Championships about to get underway, The Panel caught up with Ken Doherty to get his insights on this year's showpiece at The Crucible.
Thought to be one of the most competitive tournaments in some years, he outlines who he thinks can do well, as well as giving us his thoughts on other big stories in the snooker world.
He also discusses the mercurial Ronnie O'Sullivan, who he believes will be tempted into playing at this year's Championships after being drawn against Ali Carter in the opening round.
Will Ali Carter Draw Tempt O'Sullivan To Play?
“It's one of the worst draws for those two players [playing against each other in the first round], but it's one of the best draws for the rest of us, because of the history between them," Doherty told The Panel.
"The ‘barge-gate’ at the World Championship, where they shoulder-charged each other while walking by.
"It is quite tight at the Crucible, but there was a little bit of argy-bargy between them, and they threw the shoulder in.
"There was also a bit of a spat between them in the Masters final a couple of years ago.
“It's one of those things where Ronnie is either really going to want to play and turn up for that match, or he just doesn't fancy it.
"He came to the Welsh Open, traveled five hours all the way up from his home in Essex to play the next day.
"When he got up for breakfast, he just didn't feel like playing, and drove all the way back.
“I hope he’s okay, and I hope he does play because he brings an incredible electricity to the tournament, a great buzz. Not only with the pundits and other players, but also the fans, of course, who are the most important people.
"There's always great excitement and anticipation when Ronnie is in the tournament."
Wide-Open Championship
This year's tournament is one of the most wide-open contests in recent years, and many players will fancy their chances of taking the title.
When asked if this is one of the most competitive World Championships he has seen, he said:
"I think it's one of them [the most competitive World Championships ever], without a shadow of a doubt.
"There are just so many players who are playing really well this year. If they get a little run and a bit of confidence, they can do something, like what happened back in 1997 when I tried to win the World Championship.
"I was like 33/1 or 40/1 at one stage going into the tournament."
Moving The World Championships A Bad Idea
The Snooker World Championships have been held in the UK since their inception in 1927, but there have been murmurings that they may be moved elsewhere in the future.
China and Saudi Arabia have been mentioned as possible destinations if the tournament were to leave The Crucible. Still, Doherty thinks moving it from its current home in Sheffield would be a bad idea.
"Without a shadow of a doubt, absolutely [if it would be a bad idea to move the World Championships out of the UK].
"I don't think it will. I don't think it will go to Saudi Arabia. Saudi have put a lot of money into snooker, but they've got their own big tournament, where they take all 128 players.
"They've also got an invitation event, the 167. They're quite successful, and they can grow and grow and get bigger and bigger.
"I don't think it will go to China because China have their own events. I think it will stay in the UK, without a shadow of a doubt. I don't think it's going to go anywhere.
"But where after 2027? It's still up in the air. They're still negotiating.
"I was talking to a councillor from City Hall, and they're adamant that they want to keep it in Sheffield. But maybe they have to come up with the extra funds to support snooker, to keep it here and make sure that it doesn't go away.
"Or find new sponsors that will make up the revenue that the extra ticket sales will bring in. So that's what I'm hoping will happen and that it stays here."
Snooker Is Building In Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has firmly planted itself into the world of sport, and alongside football and golf, snooker continues to grow in popularity.
It has received positive and negative reviews, and Doherty's opinion is also divided.
"Anytime I've gone over there, they’ve been very hospitable people and good tournaments. They're trying to build up a sort of sporting team or city over there.
"They're putting a lot of money into some of the snooker players' pockets, so they could put in a bid to get the World Championship there, and maybe double the prize money.
"Would that be good for snooker? Would it be good for the World Championship? I don't think so.
"There are certain things that money can't buy. You cannot buy the history of the sport.
"If you went down the road where you were selling our World Championship to the highest bidder, I think that would be a sad day."
