Joe Swail knocked out 1997 Crucible champion Ken Doherty 10-5 after struggling to pot a ball just six weeks ago.
And 'The Outlaw' paid tribute to coach Dell Hill tonight, admitting it was a desperate measure to turn to a coach for help. Hill was Ronnie O'Sullivan's coach when the Rocket won the world crown in 2001.
"I don't believe in coaching and all that stuff", said Swail, who played superbly to turn his 5-4 overnight lead into a famous win. "But I had to bite the bullet. I lost 5-4 to Steve Davis in Malta and was bottling every chance I had to win the match. It was desperate measures but within five minutes of going to Del he had spotted the problem. And within 15 minutes we'd sorted it out,” said the 34-year-old world number."
Doherty acknowledged that Swail was playing well: "When Joe was in among the balls that was as well as I have seen him play".
"I've worked so hard for this tournament and put in so much effort. So it's soul destroying to lose in the first round."
"I missed a yellow for 3-0 in the first session and that was a big turning point. It would have kicked Joe in the teeth but after that he came back well".
Swail will meet either six-times world champion Steve Davis or former British Open runner-up Anthony Hamilton.
Scores:
K Doherty Ire 5-10 J Swail NI
63-50 (50 Swail) 72-33 59-68 (59 Doherty) 37-67 (57) 81-45 (70) 71-40 (71) 0-127 (127) 0-68 0-110 (110) 92-21 (68) 0-91 (66) 22-113 (85) 38-72 (67) 5-82 (70) 52-72
Check out the rest of the World Championship action on Aertel at:
http://www.rte.ie/aertel/p206.htm
Filed by Barry J Whyte
