Ken Doherty ended Stephen Hendry’s 29-match, five year unbeaten run at the Crucible by beating the Scot 18-12 in the final of the 1997 World Championship but his most remarkable performance came six years later.

In 2003, Doherty lived precariously on returning to the scene of his career defining triumph. Having been forced to clear the colours to beat Shaun Murphy 10-9 on the black in the first round, Doherty fought back from 7-2 down to score a 13-12 win over Graeme Dott in the last 16.

However, those efforts appeared in vain when, entering the fourth and concluding session of his semi-final against Paul Hunter, Doherty trailed 15-9 and was within two frames of defeat.

“I knew I couldn’t afford to get ahead of myself. I had to take one step at a time and the more I got back into it, the more Paul started to struggled,” said Doherty, who without compiling any sizeable breaks, rallied to 15-14, lost the thirtieth frame but won the closing three for a 17-16 victory.

It is a result that stands alongside Nigel Bond’s 10-9 win, from 9-2 down, over Cliff Thorburn in the first round in 1992 as the most startling Crucible turnaround.

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