Doherty relishing Championship bid

Former champion Ken Doherty has expressed his delight at reaching this year's World Championship at the Crucible in Sheffield.

The 42-year-old Dubliner, who won the title back in 1997 and was runner-up a year later and in 2003, has endured qualifying disappointment in both 2009 and last year when trying to get to the finals.
However, following last weekend's thrilling victory against Anthony Hamilton in the final qualifying round, when he fired a 62 break to pip his opponent to the win, Doherty is relishing his first round encounter against Australia's 2010 world champion Neil Robertson on Saturday afternoon.
"I'd more or less resigned myself to losing," he said.
"There was so much at stake. To come through like that with a great clearance was fantastic.
"I've missed it for two of the last three years, so to be back is great. I'm over the moon."
Doherty, who has been working with both BBC television and Irish radio on their respective snooker coverage, added: "Playing is my priority. If I'm not there, I'd be watching at home on TV anyway. I might as well be there.
"I love being around the game and if I'm not playing I still love being around.
"I enjoy the BBC work but my priority is to keep playing as long as I can, and as long as I can play to a standard."