going back to being a kid how does it how does like snooker come into your life so much that it's something that you see your career in because we've all been in pool halls and had to crack as kids and you know we always had men that were like throwing you a few euros so that you could just play a game or whatever but like how did that go from like just having a bit of crack to it to this is my career

You know, when I started going into the snooker club in Jason's, my brother used to take me in on a Sunday.

They used to give me an old biscuit tin to stand on.

I was only about eight years of age, right? But then when I started beating the older kids and they started hiding the biscuit tin on me, I thought, like, I was getting...

I was getting...

they were trying to teach me a lesson you know we'll teach this little brat like you know he was saying but it was sort of it was a great sort of trail for me sort of beating the older boys and and that's how I sort of it became sort of more than just a hobby for me you know I just attracted to I'd go into the the snooker club every day.

I'd clean out the ashtray, sweep the floor, brush and iron the tables just for a free game, like, you know.

And then it starts rapidly happening for you, as you mentioned, like three things there, like, you know, winning the game to start off, like it almost cements you made the right decision kind of pretty quickly.

All right? Now, is this the direction the ball's going or the direction you're facing at set up? Okay.

The ball goes.

Yeah, direction of the ball.

You want to keep it in play.

Off the tee, your main, main objective is to keep it in play.

You're not gonna laser it down the middle every time, but you can't knock it out of bounds.

You can't reload.

Mm

Okay.

The ball goes.

Yeah, direction of the ball.

You want to keep it in play.

Off the tee, your main, main objective is to keep it in play.

You're not gonna laser it down the middle every time, but you can't knock it out of bounds.

You can't reload.

What exa- I'm not sure what that means.

Did he? No, no.

No, no, no, no, no.

He was great.

I mean, he was great.

We were pals.

He was a great rival, great competitor.

You know, he was actually gone for six in a row.

It was, yeah,

Why have you decided to hang up the queue?

Oh, well, good question.

But I just think it's time, Shane, to be honest.

You know, I've had a long, prolonged career getting to the end.

I can't play like I used to, unfortunately.

And it just becomes harder and harder.

So I thought now was a good time.

I'm guessing that comes from your family.

I see you're with Dennis Taylor a lot and you're doing a lot of exhibitions and that, aren't you?

Yeah, we're still doing a lot of shows and stuff.

Dennis is great.

He's been great company and been a great friend to me over the years.

Unfortunately, we lost John Virgo, you know, back in February, just a couple of weeks before his 80th birthday.

He was a great friend as well.

And yeah, you know, I've had a great time and great fun with those guys, you know, and still do with Dennis and all the other guys in the commentary industry.

And so, I mean, when you say, you know, when you get a bit older, is it the bending over the table? Is that the problem with it? No.

what's your memory of that time Ken

Oh, it was just, it was the most magnificent, you know, and I dreamt about winning the world championship when I saw Higgins win it in 82 and Dennis Taylor win it in 85 and to emulate what those two did and bring the cup back to Ireland as well and have, you know, the open top bus from the airport was, well, that was just like the dream of all dreams, you know, and I had such a special year with it and I've had great support in Ireland, great support around the world and I really appreciate that.

I'm very humbled by it and, yeah, I just think it's the right time to call it a day, you know.

And there's a lot of talent coming from China now as well, isn't

there? Oh, yeah, without a shadow of a doubt.

I mean, this year's World Championship was probably...

Probably the best one I think we've ever had at the Crucible, to be honest, for standard and excitement and matches, you know, the two close semifinals and then the 18-17 final was just incredible.

The match between John Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan, Zing Tong against Ding, you know, with so many great stories.

Okay.

But I know he, I know he is very technical orientated.

He's had so many different coaches.

He likes to experiment.

And, uh, he likes to, uh, you know, try and, you know, experiment with his cue action and see what he can do with it, you know? But, uh...

And he likes to experiment with different cues as well.

I mean, I think he had two or di- three different cues at this world championship that he was gonna play with, and he did play with, you know.

When you say you're on the slippery slope, in your case, what's slipping?