The defeat capped a miserably season for the Aussie, 42, who has tumbled down the rankings following a difficult few years. He took X (formerly Twitter) following his narrow defeat, writing: “Well that hurts.
Fair play to Jamie though from 8-5 up I barely had a chance he played brilliant. Tough season all round and some time off needed for sure.
Featuring interviews with current players, legends of the baize, pundits, TV presenters, World Snooker Tour management and other characters from behind the scenes, it really is the perfect addition to this year’s World Championship. He wasn’t the only big name to fall though.
Legends of the sport, Jimmy White, Ken Doherty and Marco Fu, all tried and failed to qualify for the Crucible. Six-time World Championship runner-up White crashed out in the second round, losing 10-3 to Liu Hongyu.
Joe Perry, the runner-up at the Masters in 2017, is another player who will have to settle for commentary duties after losing 10-6 to Scott Donaldson in round three. Another former world champion, Graeme Dott, who lifted the trophy in 2006, fell the Jackson Page in penultimate round of qualifying.
Matt Stevens, a two-time runner-up at the Crucible, will also be absent from the tournament after a heavy defeat to Jack Lisowski in the fourth and final round of qualifying. Anthony Hamilton, a four-time World quarter-finalist, saw his Crucible hopes crushed by a 10-5 defeat to Robbie Williams.
