Ken Doherty

Doherty has won a ranking event this year

Date of birth: 17/9/69
World ranking: 7
Career earnings: £1,963,021

Dubliner Ken Doherty's career has progressed in fits and starts.

He became the first player from the Republic of Ireland to become world champion when he surprised Stephen Hendry to win 18-12 in the 1997 final.

Doherty also wrote himself into the record books by becoming the first person to grab the world amateur and professional crown.

The Irishman turned professional in 1991 and won his first ranking event two years later when he picked up the Regal Welsh Open.

Doherty's bid to retain his world crown in 1998 faltered as Scotsman John Higgins fought off the brave defence to win 18-12.

Although ranking titles have amounted to just three, his most recent came this year when he won the Rothmans Malta Grand Prix - beating world number one Mark Williams 9-3.