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Perry ends troubled Dott's championship challenge

23/04/2008

Graeme Dott has been knocked out of the World Snooker Championships after a 10-7 defeat to Joe Perry.

The 2006 champion, who only confirmed his participation at the Crucible in the days leading up to the beginning of the tournament, did not show signs of being affected by his recent bout of depression.

But Perry, who was forced to qualify for the event as he is ranked outside the top 16, looked in good touch and pulled away from the Scot after he had made a break of 126 to level the match at 6-6.

The Cambridgeshire-based player reeled off three consecutive frames and despite Dott pulling one back to make it 9-7, Perry sealed the win in the 17th.

Dott, 30, had threatened to pull out after a turbulent year - which included the death of his father-in-law and manager and a cancer scare for his wife - began to affect his focus.

However, the 30-year-old was put in touch with Bob Burns and said discussions with the psychologist had helped him to prepare for Sheffield.

"I had withdrawn from the tournament a few weeks ago [so] I am surprised at how I played, I felt great, really back to normal," said Dott.

"Joe just beat me. I thought he played unbelievably well. He made four centuries and could easily have had six. I can't speak highly enough about the way he played."

In the second round Perry will play Stuart Bingham, who knocked out another former winner - Steve Davis - in the opening stage.