Former world snooker champion, Ken Doherty has announced his retirement.
Doherty, who turned professional in 1990, went on to win six ranking titles in his career, as well as reaching the UK Championship final three times and the Masters final twice.
He has confirmed that he is finishing up with the main tour, but will continue on the senior tour.
"I probably should have done it years ago to be honest", Doherty said in an interview. "It's just gotten so harder as I've gotten older. When you remember all the good days and you can't replicate that and you can't play as well as you used to, it becomes hard work and a bit more frustrating".
"So I think the time was right. I probably should have done it a few years ago but I just love the game, I love playing, I love being involved in it", he continued. "I've had great support in Ireland and around the world. I'm really humbled by it and I think it's the right time to call it a day".
Arguably, Ken Doherty's finest moment came in 1997, when he defeated Stephen Hendry in the World Championship final at the Crucible in Sheffield, which saw him become the third Irishman to win the world title and the first from the Republic.
"I never get sick of hearing those nice bits of commentary at the end of the 1997 World Championship," Doherty said of this success.
"I dreamt about winning the World Championship when I saw [Alex] Higgins win it in '82 and Dennis Taylor win it in '85 and to emulate what those two did and bring the Cup back to Ireland. And to have the open-topped bus from the airport was just the dream of all dreams".
"I had such a special year with it. I've had great support in Ireland and around the world. I'm really humbled by it and I think it's the right time to call it a day".
Ken Doherty works as a TV commentator for the sport, and was granted a two year Invitational Tour Card in 2024 by the World Snooker Tour.
"We still have a couple of Seniors 900 events and I'll still be doing the exhibitions and recounting stories from '97, I never get tired of telling them", he said. "I'll still enjoy broadcasting as well, I'm working for the BBC and Channel 5".
