Former world finalist Dominic Dale, 52, made a highly anticipated return to the Crucible after a decade-long absence. The eccentric Welshman, known as the Spaceman, took the unusual step of addressing the crowd before the second session’s start time of 10 am. He spoke words of German to a couple who had traveled from Vienna, Austria, fulfilling a promise he had made during breakfast. Dale, who walked out to the 1968 tune ‘I’m the Urban Spaceman’ by the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, explained that he had met the fans from Vienna at the hotel and wanted to acknowledge their support. Dale had hoped to perform better, but he praised his opponent, Kyren Wilson, for his exceptional performance. Despite recording a 120 break in frame four, Dale struggled to find his rhythm, scoring only 97 points over the next seven frames. He admitted to being surprised by his own struggles, as he had played well throughout the season. Dale acknowledged the significant difference between a top-16 seed and a qualifier, and he commended Wilson’s dominance. Dale expressed disappointment in his performance but remained grateful for the opportunity to experience the Crucible again at his age. Wilson, who had a commanding 8-1 lead overnight, praised Dale’s sportsmanship and said he was looking forward to facing surprise package Joe O’Connor in the next round. Despite not having the results he expected this season, Wilson emphasized his belief that he is a contender at the Crucible due to his scoring stats and suitability for the tournament.
Dominic Dale’s Crucible Journey Ends with a Crushing Defeat
