Graeme Dott explains misery of missing out on Crucible as 2006 world snooker champion defeats Andy Hicks – ‘Horrific’

Graeme Dott moved within one win of ending his four-year wait to return to the Crucible Theatre with a 10-6 win over Andy Hicks in the penultimate round of qualifying in Sheffield.

He was forced to repel a minor recovery from 1995 Crucible semi-finalist Hicks, who closed to 9-6 from 9-3 behind before the Scotsman secured the frame he needed to reach the final round of qualifiers with a closing run of 52.

He will play Matthew Selt for a place in the last 32 on Tuesday after the former Indian Open champion completed a 10-7 win over Peter Lines.

Dott admits the pain of missing out on the Crucible is unpalatable for professional potters.

“It is horrific. It is really not good at all,” said the Larkhall man. “I would rather just go on holiday for two weeks and not see it. Hopefully this year I can get back there.

“That last round is not nice. I don’t think anybody could enjoy it. They are horrible matches to play in.

“All you want to do is win, regardless of how you feel or how you play. Even the first match is pressured. I felt like I was twitching at 9-3 up today. You need to be able to stand up to it.”

Dott has a proud record over the longer distance format. He won the 2006 final 18-14 against Peter Ebdon and also lost finals in 2004 and 2010 to Ronnie O’Sullivan (18-8) and Neil Robertson (18-13) respectively.

Dott was joined in the last qualifying round, or ‘Judgement Day’ as it has become known, by fellow Scot Anthony McGill, who survived a real battle with a 10-9 win over John Astley from 9-7 behind at the English Institute of Sport.

McGill contributed 136 and 98 in restricting Astley to only nine points in the final three frames after the Gateshead man had hit back from 4-2 behind boosted by 128, 108, 78, 72, 64 and 64.

McGill will face former Scottish Open finalist Cao Yupeng, a 10-6 winner over Ben Woollaston, on Tuesday for a place at the Crucible, but admits he wants more than just a last-32 spot after losing 17-16 to Kyren Wilson in a titanic semi-final in 2020.

“It’s not just about getting to the Crucible,” said McGill. “There is more ambition than just getting there. There is something about it I seem to enjoy.”

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