It’s like Groundhog Day every time you go to Milton Keynes
LEICESTER’S FORD HITS OUT AT THE MONOTONY OF PLAYING SAME VENUE AFTER UK CHAMPIONSHIP DEFEAT
TOM FORD claimed the monotony of playing yet another tournament in Milton Keynes has severely impacted his game, after crashing out of the UK Championship at the first hurdle to Chinese youngster Pang Junxu, writes Peter White, of Sportsbeat.
The first Triple Crown event of the season was forced to move from its usual home of the Barbican in York due to Covid-19 restrictions, and it is the sixth competition in succession to be staged at the Marshall Arena.
Leicester potter Ford reached Round 4 of the European Masters in September but has since failed to replicate such form, and despite recovering from 2-0 down to head into the mid-session interval level in his latest showing, he could not get the better of Pang and eventually lost 6-4.
While acknowledging the great efforts of Barry Hearn and the World Snooker Tour to keep the calendar up and running, the former UK Championship semi-finalist insisted he was growing tired of the same conditions.
And as he attempts to regain his focus ahead of a tilt at the Scottish Open in December – also in Milton Keynes – the 37-year-old does not believe he is capable of a worse showing than he delivered against the world No.112.
“I was awful today – I don’t think I could’ve beaten myself,” said Ford, who is ranked 24th in the world.
“I couldn’t string three balls together and every time I got in, I made only six, eight or 12 – I just couldn’t do a thing, nothing went right. We’re lucky we’ve got the games going ahead, but it’s so boring. It’s like Groundhog Day every time you go to Milton Keynes – you don’t know if you’re playing in the UK, the Irish, the English or down at your local club.
“It’s very difficult playing in the UK Championship – one of the biggest competitions there is – when I bet nobody knows it’s going ahead and nobody can watch it.
“As soon as the main table finishes strobe lights started going off.
“They’re only bothered about the main table; they’re not bothered about anyone else.”
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