Ex-snooker world champ used to thrash Ronnie O'Sullivan when he was 12

06 March 2023 , 15:46

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Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan used to practice in a purpose built snooker room in his garden (Image: Getty Images)

A former snooker world champion was well aware of the talents a young Ronnie O'Sullivan possessed - even though he used to thrash the 12-year-old budding star.

Ken Doherty was six years older than the young Rocket who made his first competitive century aged 10. Doherty was also tipped for big things as a youngster, winning the world under-21 amateur championships before turning professional in 1990.

Nicknamed the 'Darlin' of Dublin' Doherty went on to be crowned world champion in 1997 and lost the following year's final against John Higgins. While both were learning the ropes, Doherty was invited to O'Sullivan's home in 1988 and told the story of the story of how they met on Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips.

"When I moved to Essex in 1988 Ronnie used to come into the snooker club and ask me if would I practice with him and give him a few tips. I said yeah," said Doherty.

"Now I was only about 18 and he was about 12 at the time, and his father used to say - because he had a table at the bottom of the garden, he had a lovely snooker room - 'would you come down and practice, I'll send a taxi for you.'

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"So he sent the taxi for me to Ilford to pick me up and I'd go down and play with him (O'Sullivan). There was one time I was in there, I beat him like 10-2. We used to play best of 19, go and make lunch and then we'd go out and play another best of 19."

Ken Doherty won the snooker world championships in 1997 (PA)

O'Sullivan became the youngest player to win the UK Snooker Championship in 1993 at 17. He also earned the nickname 'The Rocket' because of the remarkable speed at which he can clear a snooker table. While Doherty used to beat the seven-time world champion 'every day', it was apparent that his training partner was determined to improve.

Doherty recalled a time when O'Sullivan told him he couldn't play, with Doherty calling a taxi and returning to his snooker club. However, the Brit was brushing up on his skills to have another crack the next time they met.

Ronnie O'Sullivan playing against former training partner Ken Doherty at the UK Championship (PA)

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"I sat in the taxi and put my cue down but I'd forgotten my towel so said to hold on a minute," added Doherty. "I've gone back into the snooker room and there he was practising and he got really embarrassed.

"I tell everybody I used to beat him 10-2, 10-3 every day. Now he was only 12 at the time but it still counts in my book. But even then watching him play he was amazing."

O'Sullivan would go on to get his own back on his old training partner, beating him 10-1 in the 2001 UK Championship final.

Benjamin Goddard