1997 World Snooker Champion, Ken Doherty, has been the latest former champion to make a return to the Crucible for this years Championships.

He absolutely demolished Joe Swail in the final round of qualifying with a 10-1 scoreline. The Irishman, who made two breaks of 74 one of 67 and a break of 81 when on a 147 chance, strolled into the TV stages.

The main draw will be done live at 10:30am on Thursday 11th March go to the World Snooker website for further details.

Other players also through to the TV stages include debutant Tom Ford who came through a tough looking match against Judd Trump by a surprisingly comfortable 10-3 scoreline. He told Worldsnooker.com that “It hasn’t sunk in yet, but I’ll have a couple of beers at the club tonight and then it will,” said Leicester’s World No 49 Ford. “I got to a quarter-final in Malta in 2005 but since then I’ve not done enough. I didn’t practise hard enough. I had too much time on my hands and I was drinking too much – it’s hard to practise with a hangover.

“At the end of last season I lost to a player who I knew I should have beaten, and I realised I had to get my head down. I’ve knuckled down this season and treated snooker as a job.

“I was good friends with Mark Selby when we were kids, then when we were 18 I took the wrong path. He is very dedicated to snooker and I wasn’t on the same wavelength. Seeing him do well on TV winds me up because I know I should be doing the same.”

Martin Gould has made a return after besting Nigel Bond 10-4 and Michael Holt is also through to Thursdays draw with a 10-6 win over David Morris.

The final five places at the Crucible will be decided tonight.

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