Ken Doherty won the world championship at Sheffield’s Crucible Theater in 1997 and has the chance to emulate that historic victory at Sunday’s world senior event.
Evergreen Irishman Doherty scored a resounding 4-1 victory over Barry Pinches in the semi-finals, dropping just one frame to seal a final showdown with Brazil’s Igor Figueiredo. Figueiredo defeated defending champion Jimmy White 3-0 in the quarterfinals, scoring the next goal. He defeated Tony Drago of Malta 4-1.
Doherty lost 5-4 to Whyte in the 2020 final after leading 4-0, but will be looking for an improved result this time as he aims for his first World Senior crown.
Doherty, who beat Stephen Hendry 18-12 in the 1997 world final, said: “We got off to a good start by winning that black-ball game and I’m more than a little excited to have made it to the final.” Told.
“It was a really tough match and I’m a little fed up, but I’m really excited for tomorrow’s final against Igor Figueiredo.
“I’m not going to count chickens. I’m just going to go out there and do my best and give it my all. This is a tournament that I definitely want to win and I’d like to add to my list, but we have a very tough team ahead of us. I have a partner.”
Drago restored parity at 1-1 with a break of 69, but Figueiredo rolled in with 57, 110 and 119 to qualify for Sunday’s best-of-nine final in Sheffield, with the winner They were awarded a trophy and a £20,000 winner’s check.
The featured match begins at 12pm UK time at the Crucible.
World Senior Championship Results
1st round (5 slots)
- stuart watson 3-0 Tony Knowles
- ken doherty 3-1 Tyson Krinis
- James Wattana 3-2 Rodney Goggins
- Igor Figueiredo 3-1 Tessa Davidson
- Tony Drago 3-1 Michael Judge
- jimmy white 3-2 Andrew Norman
- Dechawat Pumjen 3-1 Darren Morgan
- barry pinches 3-1 Joe Johnson
Quarterfinals (first to win 5 frames)
- Jimmy White 0-3 Igor Figueiredo
- Stuart Watson 1-3 Tony Drago
- Dechawat Pumjen 2-3 ken doherty
- barry pinches 3-1 James Wattana
Semi-finals (7 spots won)
- Igor Figueiredo 4-1 Tony Drago
- ken doherty 4-1 Barry Pinch
Final (best of 9 frames)
- Igor Figueiredo v Ken Doherty