Dott spot on as he downs Carter at Crucible
GRAEME DOTT may consider setting up a second home at the Crucible as he once again showed his best there.
The 2006 world champion, making his 18th appearance attheBetfredWorldChampionships in Sheffield, saw off seeded Ali Carter 10-7 in his first-round match yesterday.
Dott has reached three finals at the Crucible in total but was at a loss to explain why he felt so relaxed and performed so well in snooker’s premier venue.
“My season can be garbage but I come here and feel like a player. I have no idea why,” Dott explained.
“You’re in the dressing room petrified for the knock on the door because you think you might play terribly.
“Touch wood, I generally play well here because I’m comfortable. I think that’s the main thing. Even when Ali came back at 8-7 I was still comfortable, which surprised me. I felt quite comfortable all the way through. Probably the only thing I didn’t do was score quite heavily.
“If I was to play a money match home and away I would probably pick here rather than my own table, I just love playing here. I’ve had nightmares as well but everyone does.”
Dott was 4-0 ahead and led 6-3 after the first session against 37-year-old Carter. But he was under pressure when the two-time finalist made two centuries to get back to 8-7. Carter has not been knocked out in the first round in Sheffield since 2006 but Dott was able to get over the line and secure a last-16 tie against Barry Hawkins or Tom Ford.
And the 39-year-old hopes his “jack of all trades” skill set will continue to help him thrive in the longer matches.
“I love it here, I’m not the best at anything – long potting, break building. But I’m pretty good at everything and in these long games that’s all you need to be,” he said. “I was so happy to qualify, I wasn’t fussed who I played. I’m just glad to be here because I’m not getting any younger.
“I tried to attack the balls as best I could when necessary, but you have to do that here because you’re playing the best players in the world. You can’t go into your shell.” WatchtheSnookerWorld ChampionshipLiveonEurosportandEurosportPlayer, withColinMurrayandanalysisfromJimmyWhiteand NealFoulds