Resurgent Ken Doherty aims to continue his superb start to the season in next week’s Pukka Pies UK Championship qualifiers.

The former World Champion from Dublin suffered the worst slump of his career last season, winning just two matches in eight ranking events and falling to No 44 in the World.

But Doherty is back to form this term, having won five matches to reach the quarter-finals of the Roewe Shanghai Masters and three more en route to the last 16 of the Grand Prix. He heads back to Pontin’s in Prestatyn needing two wins to reach the venue stages of the Pukka Pies UK Championship in Telford.

“I haven’t lost a ranking match there yet this season and I hope I can keep that going for as long as possible,” said the 40-year-old Irishman. “Last season I had a run there where I won one frame in four matches – and I was lucky to win that. Everyone wanted to play me because I was an easy draw. I was dreading going to the qualifiers and that showed in the way I played.

“No one looks forward to playing me now. I feel like a different player and I’m looking forward to events. The qualifiers are a quagmire and you have to muck in and haul yourself out. It doesn’t matter if it’s not pretty, as long as you win. There’s so many good players there and a lot of pressure on every match.”

Doherty, who plays his opening match next Saturday with the winner to face Jamie Cope in the final qualifying round the following Monday, has reached the UK final three times, although he admits he was outplayed in two of those.

“I lost 10-1 to Ronnie O’Sullivan in 2001 when he was on fire,” said the 1997 Crucible champ. “In 1994 I lost 10-5 to Stephen Hendry when he made seven centuries. That was the best exhibition of snooker I’ve ever seen and I’m ever likely to see, it was unprecedented. The one I could have won was in 2002 when I lost 10-9 to Mark Williams, that was a great final and very close, so it hurt to lose.

“It’s a great tournament and I’m disappointed not to have won it, but it’s never too late. The best-of-17 matches give you time to settle and favour the better players.”

The Pukka Pies UK Championship qualifiers start on Monday and run for eight days, with former World Champions Steve Davis, John Parrott and Graeme Dott, as well as rising stars such as Judd Trump, Jamie Cope, Liang Wenbo and Ricky Walden all battling for a place at Telford. Tickets can be bought on the gate at Prestatyn for just £5 per day.

The final stages of the Pukka Pies UK Championship run from December 5 to 13 at the International Centre in Telford, with the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, Stephen Hendry and Neil Robertson competing for the title. For tickets call 01952 561 700 or visit www.worldsnooker.com/uk

Pukka Pies enjoy a diverse range of sporting partnerships encompassing football, netball, hockey and motorsport.

Pukka Pies are the sponsors of the official England Football Supporters Band and club sponsors of England’s most successful ladies hockey team, Leicester Ladies.