David Lilley fouls in wild fashion against Elliot Slessor in UK Championship qualifying – ‘Time must have stood still’

David Lilley had a moment to forget during his clash with Elliot Slessor in UK Championship qualifying.

With a place at the Barbican in York on the line, the stakes were high at the Morningside Arena.

Lilley was up against it at 3-1 down in the race to six, but he had a chance to pinch the fifth frame from behind.

What followed left Lilley in a state of bewilderment, as he fouled in the wildest of ways.

Stretching across the table to reach the potting angle, Lilley knocked in the green and drew the white back towards the reds.

But as he got up off the shot, in the words of Steven Hallworth on Eurosport and discovery+ commentary “time must have stood still” for Lilley as his chalk had dropped out of his pocket in playing the shot and the cue ball went straight into it.

“Oh my goodness me,” Hallworth said. “He pots the green and his chalk comes out of his pocket and he’s screwed straight into it.

“Time must have stood still there for David Lilley.

“You cannot catch your breath here at the Morningside Arena.

“You think you have seen everything there is to see in this game, and you haven’t.

“That is unbelievable.”

Lilley’s head sank as he reluctantly walked away from the table knowing he had passed up a huge chance to take the frame.

As the match continued, Lilley was seen placing his chalk on the rail between shots to avoid a repeat.