Ken Doherty secured the World Snooker Championship title in 1997 with a remarkable bargain: a cue that cost just £2, purchased with money lent by his mother. The Irish snooker legend achieved this feat nearly three decades ago, defeating the dominant Stephen Hendry in the final. Doherty's unconventional journey to glory began when he discovered an abandoned cue at a club in his hometown of Dublin.
Doherty's Bargain Cue
The club owner initially asked for £5 for the discarded cue. However, a young and resourceful Doherty managed to negotiate the price down to £2 by convincing the owner that his mother could only afford that amount. Speaking to ITV in 2025, Doherty recalled: 'I still have the cue. I changed cue just recently, just to try it out. But I've had my £2 cue since 1981. I've had it since about 10 years of age.' He added: 'I picked it up off the pool rack, I played with it after somebody had left it behind. I said to the manager, "If nobody comes back, can I keep this cue?" In his broad Dublin accent, he said, "Give us a fiver for it." I got a fiver off my mother. I put £2 in this pocket, £3 in this pocket and went back. I said my mother couldn't afford the £5, that she only had £2. I put my hand in this pocket and took out the £2. He looked at the cue, he looked at the £2 and he says, "Give me the £2."'
Doherty's shrewd negotiation paid off handsomely. With that same cue, he won the World Junior Championship, the World Amateur Championship, and ultimately the World Professional Championship. He remarked: 'I think it was good value! Thankfully no one came back to collect the cue.'
Hero's Welcome in Dublin
Following his World Championship triumph, Doherty received a hero's welcome back in Dublin. An open-top bus parade through the city centre and a reception at the Mansion House celebrated his achievement. He told the Daily Star in 2024: 'When I came home, there was an open-top bus tour through the city centre and a reception at the Mansion House. The lord mayor presented me with a cut-glass trophy, there were huge crowds outside, people lining the streets with flags and banners saying "Welcome home champ."'
Doherty added: 'Those type of homecomings are only granted to Olympic champions or the national football team, so I was quite honoured and humbled by it. I didn't think it would have such an impact on the country. It was wonderful, what dreams are made of.'
Legacy of the £2 Cue
The £2 cue remains a symbol of Doherty's remarkable career. Despite nearly breaking the 'Crucible curse' the following year, when he lost to John Higgins in the final, Doherty's legacy as a world champion endures. His story highlights that success does not require expensive equipment, but rather skill, determination, and a bit of luck.
