Doherty tells mega-wealthy O’Sullivan to stop moaning

KEN DOHERTY has stoked up his UK Championship clash with Ronnie O’Sullivan – by insisting the Rocket should be grateful for his millions.

Irish elder statesman Doherty, 49, one the greatest ambassadors in the game, is a huge admirer of the six-time UK champion.

But O’Sullivan’s constant public criticism of his own sport and supremo Barry Hearn in recent months has grated with many players.

The world No.3 has slammed the quality of venues, labelling them “hellholes smelling of urine,” blasted tournament formats and claimed snooker has “no class”.

All this despite O’Sullivan pocketing over £10million prize money in his career, £4m of it under Hearn – and plenty more off the table. And ahead of their second-round meeting, threetime UK runner-up Doherty says the likes of Steve Davis and Jimmy White never behaved in the same fashion.

Former world champion Doherty (right), who has hinted he could retire next summer, said: “It is hard to think of another leading box-office star that is so publicly critical of their own sport.

“I think Ronnie should be grateful for all the game has given him, and what Barry Hearn has done for the game.

“There are so many sponsors and so much prize money for him to win – and he is winning it.

“He is very successful, and a very rich man. That is all because of snooker.

“Ronnie would like to play against only the top 16 or the top eight on TV for every tournament, he would love that, rather than having to get out of bed to play young lads coming through. “But when he was coming through, you wouldn’t have heard Steve Davis or Jimmy White saying these things, or Stephen Hendry when he started.

“Ronnie is box office and without question one of the greatest to play the game, if not the greatest. “But he should be a little more appreciative of what he has, rather than saying what he would like. “I think most players appreciate what has been done, even the other top-16 players.

“Most are happy, even if the venues could be better. But finding ones big enough is hard.” O’Sullivan, 43 next week, is going for a record seventh UK title and has a chance of regaining the No.1 spot this season for the first time in eight years.

Doherty added: “The chance to play a legend once more at the UK Championship will get the juices flowing all right.

“I have played great matches in this event, but just lost three finals to great players – Ronnie, Stephen Hendry and Mark Williams.

“Mark beat me 10-9 in this final then 18-16 in the world final the same season in 2002-03. A couple of balls here and there, and I could have had two more huge titles.

“I still enjoy playing, especially the big occasions, just not the travelling and practice so much.

“But if I get to the stage where I am going into matches and don’t think I have a chance, that might be time to say ‘au revoir’.

“At the moment, I still believe if I play well I can win.”