Resurgent Dott whitewashes Yuan to reach third round
• Former world champion relishes recent return to form after York win
Formerworldchampiongraeme Dott believes he’s close to rediscovering his best form, as he cruised into the Betway UK Championship third round.
The 42-year-old had breezed past veteran Barry Pinches in his tournament opener, and continued his blistering run with a 6-0 thumping of Chinese youngster Yuan Sijun to book his place in the last 32 for the third year in succession.
Dott stamped his authority on the game from the off with four half-centuries on the spin, and duly finished off in style with a final-frame break of 99 to put the result beyond doubt.
And having enjoyed an encouraging season in which he has reached the quarterfinals of the International Championship and the third round of three other ranking tournaments, Dott is confident he is a match for any of the world’s best.
“When I’m in that sort of form I’m quite hard to beat,” he said. “I wouldn’t like to play myself when I play like that.
“I’ve been playing well all season so it’s nice to keep it going. I knew I had to perform because Yuan’s one of the better players who’s ranked a little further back.
“In the first
round
Imaybe wasn’t put under as much pressure but this was a tough draw and sometimes you need that to really find your focus and concentration. Everything was strong – my safety was good, my breakbuilding was good and I didn’t give him many chances.
“Fortunately, when I did give him opportunities he didn’t capitalise.”
Dott has two ranking titles to his name and his latest victory at the York Barbican aided his quest to go one further than a previous best semi-finals finish at the first Triple Crown event of the season.
But while buoyed by his promising performances in the first two rounds in Yorkshire, Dott acknowledged plenty of tough tests lie ahead before he can turn his thoughts to lifting the trophy.
He said: “The problem with the tour is that everyone on it is a good player and there are no easy games. You couldn’t hand pick anyone and be confident you were going to win, so I know it’s going to be very tough.
“It’s completely different from when I started playing. The standard’s amazing and even harder for those guys coming through Q-school.
“I’m playing well but I’m sure the games are only going to get tougher towards the latter stages of the tournament.”
• Watch the UK Championship live on Eurosport and Eurosport Player with analysis from Ronnie O’sullivan and Jimmy White.
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“Everyone on the tour is a good player. You couldn’t hand pick anyone and be confident you were going to win, so I know it’s going to be very tough”
GRAEME DOTT