Dott crashes out of World Championship
Graeme Dott, surprise runner-up in last year’s Embassy World Championship, crashed out in the first round at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre tonight.
The 27-year-old Scot lost 10-9 to Ian McCulloch having fought back from 7-3 down to lead 9-8 before his opponent took the match to a deciding frame in which Dott was 38 points ahead.
But then McCulloch, the world number 17 from Preston, knocked in a brilliant but unconventional 63 clearance to seal a last-16 tie against maximum man Mark Williams – and danced a jig of delight out of the arena.
McCulloch’s break began when he potted a superb long red and fluked another, landing perfectly on the pink.
He also crossed the last yellow when trying to leave Dott snookered.
“That was better than Alex Higgins’ 69,” said McCulloch, referring to the famous break the ‘Hurricane’ made in his title-winning year of 1982.
“I had to go for the long red at the start and when you pot a ball like that you deserve a bit of luck.
“Unless you play someone like Ronnie O’Sullivan you will always get a chance in a decider and you have got to be man enough to take it.”
Dott could not believe he had lost the match and believed fate had conspired against him.
“It sounds terrible to say it but Ian’s clearance was really good but really lucky,” said the 15th seed.
“For that first red he only had a gap of a ball’s width to get the white through. Then he doubled the last yellow.
“He stole six frames. I just wasn’t destined to win it. To lose after playing a really good safety shot is hard to take.”
O’Sullivan, Dott’s conqueror in last year’s final, was held 4-4 by his practice partner Ali Carter in the first session of their second-round encounter.
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