Dott holds all the aces in superb win over Trump
Graeme Dott believes he is showing his best form in years as the former world champion came from behind to shock world No 2 Judd Trump at the Betway UK Championship.
Dott, who has never made it beyond the semifinals on the baize in York, found himself two frames down after crisp breaks of 93 and 78 from Trump.
But the Glasgow potter fired back with breaks of 86 and 93 to help him roar into a 4-2 lead at the Barbican in York.
And Dott continued where he left off after the interval, clinching a break of 72 to make it 5-2 before capitalising on a mistake from Trump to seal a famous victory.
Dott, pictured, reeled off six consecutive frames and admits the victory will do his confidence the world of good as he looks to go far in the competition.
He said: “I took the game to him and that’s the best way to go about. If I had played negatively he would’ve beaten me. I can understand why I don’t get a lot of credit because I don’t look very good out there but I get the respect from the players and that’s all that matters to me.
“I just felt so comfortable out there. It’s nice to be back out there and not getting silly questions from people asking if I still play snooker!
“I get it from deliverymen, asking ‘do you still play?’ so it’s nice to play well and let people know that I still know how to play the game.”
And Dott will face 2004 champion Stephen Maguire as he made it to the last 16 of the competition for the 14th successive season with a 6-5 win against Liang Wenbo.
Glasgow’s Maguire produced a break of 117 before making a 67 break in the deciding frame to beat the in-form Chinese cueman. l Watch LIVE coverage of the UK Championship on Eurosport and Eurosport Player with Colin Murray and analysis from Jimmy White and Neal Foulds