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Ken Doherty was feeling just like a champion in Valetta tonight after capturing his first ranking tournament title since May 1997. The former world title holder defeated Welsh left-hander Mark Williams 9-3 to take the £295,000 Malta Rothmans Grand Prix at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.
"But this is really special to me because it's been so long since I last won a ranking title. "All the bad memories from Wembley when I missed the black for a 147 maximum break and lost to Matthew Stevens are now forgotten. "I took a lot of stick at the time but winning the tournament was more important. And that's why this means so much. "I won't be resting. I'll keep practising and hope I can pick up another trophy." Doherty's victory in the 1997 world final provided him with his last major success. The odds on him repeating that Crucible Theatre victory will no doubt come tumbling down. World number seven Doherty led 5-3 after a superb first session of snooker. Both players compiled some excellent breaks, with the Irishman's 101 which gave him his two-frame advantage, the highlight. The evening session couldn't match that high level of consistency as Doherty reeled off four more frames without reply. "Ken played garbage in that second session so that sums up how badly I played," said Williams, who collected a £26,000 consolation prize. "I was pathetic, no other word for it. I can't understand how I'm getting to finals because I'm struggling so much." Both players now go to Bangkok for the Thailand Masters, starting in six days' time. Meanwhile, Ronnie O'Sullivan's 142 clearance against Jimmy White earned him the £3000 high break prize. Go To Page: 1
The copyright of the article News: Rothmans Grand Prix Finds a Winner in Pool/Snooker/Billiards is owned by Neena V. Talpade. Permission to republish News: Rothmans Grand Prix Finds a Winner in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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