Perry tires of always having to dodge bullets

Joe Perry isn’t getting any younger and the Wisbech potter says he is struggling to cope with a hectic snooker schedule.

Perry succumbed to a surprise 4-3 loss to Ashley Carty in the first round of the Welsh Open in Cardiff, twice failing to hold onto a lead to dash his hopes of glory in the final Home Nations event of the season.

Perry had performed well in the previous tournament, the World Grand Prix in Cheltenham, where he reached the quarter-finals before bowing out to in-form Neil Robertson, but a lack of consistency has dogged the 45 year-old all season.

“I played terribly in Cardiff and I’d put it down to just being tired really,” Perry said.

“It’s a busy schedule – I’ve not been winning tournaments like Neil Robertson, but I’ve been at a lot of snooker events recently and I just need to recover.

“I lost at the Grand Prix on a Friday and then played first thing on the Monday in Cardiff and it would have been nice just to have an extra day off.

“I was just tired and in need of a rest. I didn’t think well and I didn’t play well.

“I’m surprised I played as badly as I did but I’m not that shocked. I’m 45 now and I’ve done a lot of travelling recently and I’m pretty honest about my snooker.

“I don’t think I’ve played well at all this season, and I can’t keep dodging bullets. You have to play well at some stage, but I’m not playing well at all.”

This year’s World Championships at the Crucible is getting ever closer, but the 2015 Players’ Championship winner admits it is becoming more difficult to pick up a cue.

“The motivation is still there to practice and improve,” Perry added.

“But not so much at my age when I’ve been at a tournament for a week and then have to travel to another one the next day.

“Between losing in Cheltenham and starting in Cardiff I didn’t pot a ball.

“I don’t need to go home and practice for eight hours a day on a weekend after a defeat.

“Scheduling makes a big difference but that’s out of my hands. It is what it is I suppose.”

The World Championships

in Sheffield take place between April 18 and May 4.

Perry is currently world ranked number 17.

The next tour event is the one-frame shootout in Watford starting today (Thursday) before the Players’ Championship starts next week in Southport.

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Joe Perry