Ken Doherty's World Snooker Championship Preview With The Panel

This weekend, snooker fans will have their eyes glued to the start of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible.

Betting sites have Judd Trump as favourite, but who will be crowned world champion on Monday, May 5th?

Ken Doherty knows what it's like to win the coveted trophy, having won it in Sheffield in 1997.

The Panel spoke exclusively to him ahead of this year's tournament.

Crucible Curse Could End This Year

Since the most prestigious snooker tournament on the calendar moved to Sheffield, no first-time winner has successfully defended their title.

Doherty had a very good chance to do so in 1998, 12 months after beating Stephen Hendry 18-12 in the final, but came very close before losing to John Higgins by the same score.

The popular Dubliner thinks Kyren Wilson could be the one to finally end the 'Crucible Curse'.

“This is one of those years where you've got so many players that are actually playing really well coming into the tournament.

"The likes of the defending champion, Wilson, who's won four tournaments already this season. And Trump, I think he's won three and is just behind him.

“Of course, we have to mention Ronnie O'Sullivan. He doesn't have any form this season, but, of course, he has lots of form at the Crucible. 

"He's won it seven times, he's going for eight. We don't even know if he's going to play yet.”

'Amateur' To Shine On The Biggest Stage

The World Snooker Championship is a chance for players to make a name for themselves, just as Joe Johnson did when winning in 1986 at 150/1.

All it takes is for a player to be at the top of his game for a fortnight, and their world could change forever.

Ken believes Zhao Xintong could have a very special time at the Crucible this year.

“There are a few of them [dark horses] in there, and a couple of them would be Chinese. One is Xintong, who’s technically still an amateur because he doesn't take up his professional card until the new season in June.

“He's qualified as an amateur, and I think he scored 12 centuries in the qualifiers. He's playing Jak Jones in the first match. The winner of that would play the winner of Wilson and Lei Peifan, who won the Scottish Open this year.

“So, if Wilson and Xintong come through those first matches, they will play each other in the last-16. That would be a good test for Wilson. He [Xintong] would be a dark horse for me.

“Wu Yize also beat Matthew Stevens 10-9 [in the qualifiers]. He's another player who's had a wonderful season. He lost in the final of the Scottish Open, but he's had a wonderful season, playing beautifully. 

"He could be a dark horse, too!”

Stage Is Set For At Least One Maximum

There have been two maximum breaks of 147 already this week in the qualifiers, with Jackson Page recording both.

Unfortunately, the Welshman's hopes ended with defeat to Joe O'Connor, but Page is over £150,000 richer thanks to his remarkable achievement in Monday's qualifier with Allan Taylor.

While there was no maximum break at last year's tournament, there were two the year before, with Wilson and Mark Selby adding their name to the Crucible's roll of honour.

Ken said he wouldn't be surprised if we saw another maximum break in the next two weeks, and thinks a former champion may be the one to do it.

“I think so [if we’ll see many 147s at this year’s tournament]. We had one in the final in 2023, and that was the first time anybody ever made a 147 in the final, when Selby played Luca Brecel. It was quite incredible.

“I just think the standard has gone up and up and up. There's a great carrot that if anybody makes two 147s in the Triple Crown events, and the Saudi event, they will get £147,000.

“Page did that, so he will get £147,000 plus £15,000 for a high break prize, and £10,000 for the qualifying high break prize. So he could make £172,000, unless somebody else makes a 147.

“But he's guaranteed £147,000. Shaun Murphy has had a 147 at the Masters, so he could do it as well at the World Championship.

“I think it's possible we’ll see 147s at the World Championship because of the standard, and because of the bonuses that are available to the players. So there's something to really go for.

"I'm hoping that there'll be at least one 147 this year.”