Dott aims to show his Sheffield steel
Former champ wants to feel Crucible heat
Former world champion Graeme Dott is hoping his vast experience will help him qualify for this year’s World Snooker Championship.
The 2006 champion has to win two tough qualifying matches to guarantee his participation in snooker’s most-prestigious tournament, which runs from July 31 to August 16 at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.
And Dott, who has competed in three World finals, knows the pressure to qualify will be ramped up to another level.
“I’ve been to the Crucible and won the Worlds. But I’m still under as much pressure as a guy that’s never been there,” stressed the man from Larkhall.
“Luckily, I’ve done really, really well the last few years and qualified.
“The last time I didn’t qualify was when I lost to Kyren Wilson six years ago. But since then I’ve won a lot of matches.
“That was one of the strangest feelings I’ve had in my career. Realising you were not going to play the World Championship was horrible. It was hard to believe, it was surreal knowing I wasn’t going.
“But I think the disappointment of that has spurred me on, because I’m on a long run of winning matches to qualify. Hopefully I can add another two.
“The build-up to the qualifiers isn’t pleasant, going to bed the night before, thinking about your match and even winning.
“I’ve been 9-2 up in matches and still felt the pressure. It’s just so hard because there’s so much at stake.
“Thankfully, I’ve managed to deal with it before, so hopefully I can do so again.”
Dott kicks off his quest on Saturday, at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
To make things that little bit tougher, Dott will be playing his first competitive match after the enforced four-month break due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“I think this is probably the longest I’ve gone without playing a match,” the 43-year-old admitted.
“Nobody really knows how good their form is. But all the players will be in the same boat.
“I didn’t pick up my cue for three months, but it’s actually been fine since I’ve been back practising. I came back thinking I’d be all over the place, but I really wasn’t that bad.
“I’ve been practising with Alan McManus, John Higgins and Ross Muir. That can only help me with match sharpness.
“But experience can only take you so far. Everybody knows qualifying is the worst place in the world to be if you start to struggle.
“There’s so much pressure on everybody, there’s no part of the process which is enjoyable.
“But I’ll be ready to give it my best shot. Getting to the Crucible means everything.”
Four-time world champion John Higgins and compatriot Stephen Maguire – this season’s Tour Championship winner – are both guaranteed a first-round berth at the Crucible because of their top-16 rankings.
But Dott will be joined in qualifying by no fewer than six more Scots in Sheffield.
Three-time Crucible semifinalist Alan McManus, young guns Anthony McGill and Scott Donaldson, as well as Eden Sharav, Ross Muir and Fraser Patrick will all be attempting to qualify.