Nearly half of the Irishman’s matches this season have gone to final-frame shoot-outs.

As per normal, he has generally come out on top, winning seven and losing only two.

Doherty may not possess the natural talent of the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan but he makes up for it in guile and pure guts. This was best illustrated at The Malta Open.

Despite being 3-0 and 4-2 down against Stuart Bingham, he managed to prevail 5-4.

He won by the same score line in the quarter-finals against Stephen Maguire but saved his best Houdini act for the final as he rallied from 8-5 down to beat John Higgins 9-8.

His first ranking title for five years is undoubtedly the highlight of Doherty’s season so far but by no means his only one. Aside from Malta, he reached the final of the Irish Professional Championship, the semi-final of The China Open and the quarter-final of The UK Championship.

The 1997 champion has been in fairly solid form this season and, being in the much easier half of the draw - Hendry, Higgins and O’Sullivan are all in the bottom half - and facing the only debutant (Barry Hawkins) in the first round, Doherty will quietly fancy his chances of more Crucible glory.

Prediction: Runner-up despair