Ken Doherty's time as a top-level professional snooker player may be coming to an end.
The Dubliner lost his tour card in Sheffield on Monday night, as he lost his World Championships Second Qualifying Round match to Ben Woollaston.
Doherty went 6-0 at the start of the match, before finally winning his first frame in the seventh. The Dubliner went on to win three of the following four frames to close the game to 7-4.
UPDATE | Ben Woollaston has defeated 1997 World Champion Ken Doherty 10-4 to reach Judgement Day. The defeat sees Doherty drop off the tour pic.twitter.com/H63XrWGWwN
— World Snooker (@WorldSnooker1) April 10, 2017
Woollaston won the final three frames to book his place in the Third Qualifying Round. The 29-year-old is now only one-win away from reaching only his second World Championships. In 2013, he lost to Ali Carter in the First Round.
If Doherty is to return to the tour next season, he will have to go to Tour School next month in a bid to regain his card. The Preston tournament is a straight knock-out tournament, and is best-of seven frames matches.
While Doherty will not be competing in Sheffield, Fergal O'Brien is one win away from returning to The Crucible. The 45-year-old, who has not played in the World Championships since a 2010 First Round loss to eventual champion Neil Robertson.
The Dubliner meets David Gilbert in the best-of-19 frame match, with a place in the first round at stake.
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