Ulsterman Gerard Greene believes he can be a match for any opponent after making it through to the World Championships by dumping out former champ Ken Doherty in the final qualifying round.

And Greene will be joined at the Crucible by another Northern Ireland cueist,. Joe Swail, (right) who made it through by virtue of a 10-1 hammering of Matthew Crouch.

But is was Greene’s victory over 1997 champion Doherty that caused the greatest upset as the Belfast man rocked to a 10-5 success over Doherty, whose best days seem to be well behind him.

Greene, who has played three times at the Crucible but never got past the first round, now believes he can go on a run in the competition.

"Everyone wants to get there. Hopefully this time I can sneak through the first round,” he said.

“If I play well I'll be a test for anyone."

Dubliner Doherty dropped out of the top 16 at the end of last season, after a 15-year stint among the elite players, meaning he was no longer guaranteed a place in the Crucible main draw.

His slump continued at the English Institute of Sport venue.

"I’m on a slippery slope and I don’t know where it will finish," Doherty said. "I’ll be back next season, but maybe not for too long, the way things are going."

Greene led 6-3 after the first session and pressed home his advantage in the afternoon to make sure of his place in the televised stages of the tournament which begin on April 18.

Former semi-finalist Swail thrashed Couch to ensure he will be returning to South Yorkshire next month.

Swail also slipped out of the world’s top 16 players after his defeat to Liang Wenbo in the second round at the Crucible last year, but a polished performance against Couch guaranteed he will return to the Sheffield theatre.

The draw for the first round of the World Championships takes place today.