Ken Doherty will make a return to the scene of his greatest triumph next month after securing an emphatic 10 frames to one defeat of Joe Swail in the final qualifying round of the Betfred.com World Snooker Championship.
The 1997 World Champion from Ranelagh is in the hat for Thursday’s draw for the first round proper at the Crucible. Doherty has enjoyed two breaks of 74 and one of 67 in a fine display against Belfast’s Swail.
Tom Ford has an equivalent lead over Judd Trump and looks set to become the first debutant through to the Crucible this year. The Leicester cueman has fired in runs 56, 69, 53, 79, 54 and 55.
Martin Gould, who surprised Matthew Stevens in this round last year, in on course for another trip to the TV stages as he’s 6-3 up on 1995 finalist Nigel Bond. Londoner Gould has compiled breaks of 50, 80, 114 and 129.
