Dominic Dale’s run at the World Snooker Championship came to an end on Wednesday, as the 52-year-old Welshman was defeated 10-1 by Kyren Wilson in the first round. Dale, who had not qualified for the event in ten years, was outplayed by Wilson, who is now set to face Joe O’Connor in round two.
Dale, nicknamed “The Spaceman,” struggled to find his rhythm against Wilson, who dominated the match from the outset. The Welshman admitted to being “surprised” by his poor performance, saying he “didn’t give [Wilson] too many opportunities.”
Despite the disappointing result, Dale remained upbeat, thanking the crowd in German before the start of the second session on Thursday. He acknowledged fans from Vienna, who had told him they never got picked when the MC mentioned people from different countries.
Dale also expressed his disappointment in his performance, saying he “didn’t perform like [he] has done all season.” However, he acknowledged that he was “very privileged and lucky” to be competing at the Crucible at his age.
Dale will now join the Eurosport punditry team in London for the remainder of the tournament. He is expected to provide expert analysis and commentary alongside other snooker legends.
