SNOOKER: COVENTRY cueman Dominic Dale fought from 5-2 down against Graeme Dott in the second-round of the UK Championship, only to lose the deciding frame.
Up against the 2006 world champion, the game looked over for Dale before it had started when Dott raced to an early two-frame lead.
But the 45-year-old pulled off back-to-back half-century breaks to help him level the scores at 5-5 and force a deciding frame.
However it was Dott who found the right combination as a break of 52 helped him seal the frame and send Dale home.
Despite exiting while momentum was on his side, Dale left Barbican in positive spirits.
He said: “I didn’t start the match well enough.
“I was 2-0 down before I even started and I was always playing catch up.
“I had chances but I couldn’t pot the important balls or I left myself in an awkward position and missed a pressure ball.
“I played very well from 5-2 to get it back to 5-5. I was scoring well and played with a lot more freedom.
“In the last frame I thought I had him. He left me a mid-table red to start with which I had to make. But I wobbled it and missed it under pressure I guess.
“If Graeme had won the match 6-2 or 6-3 I would have gone home thinking I hadn’t achieved much.
“To come back from 5-2 to 5-5 and play the way I did and show courage was a big plus point.
“If I had played anywhere like I did in my first match, I wouldn’t have lost.”
The UK Championship continues on Eurosport throughout the week with Colin Murray presenting with analysis from Jimmy White and Neal Foulds.
