UK Championship makes frustrating viewing for Fen Potter Joe Perry after defeat to boyhood hero Jimmy White
A DISAPPOINTED Joe Perry has admitted the UK Snooker Championship is proving uncomfortable viewing after the Chatteris potter was denied an appearance in the first round by his boyhood hero Jimmy White.
Perry was knocked out of the competition by the snooker legend, who he cites as the “reason he got into snooker”, after losing 9-6 in the final qualifying round last week.
And the 36-year-old, who is currently ranked 28th in the world, said he has been frustrated watching his rivals compete in a competition he felt he could excel in.
“It’s gutting not to be there and it was a disappointing result,” he said. “But the more disappointing thing was watching White play (Stephen) Hendry this week. He was two different players.
“I didn’t get a look in at all in the first session against him. He hardly put a foot wrong and he basically didn’t miss a ball.
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“There’s no point in moping about it. I lost and he played very well to beat me. That’s the brutal truth. But it is frustrating watching the next rounds on television. There’s no way Stephen Hendry is playing as well as I thought I was playing.
“The last three times I have played Stephen I have beaten him resoundingly. I take nothing away from him, he’s one of the greatest to ever play snooker, but he’s past his best and I’d have loved to have played him.”
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The Fen Potter has now returned to the practice table in preparation for the upcoming qualifying rounds of the German Masters.
“I still feel like I’m playing really well,” he said. “I’ve just been a bit unfortunate to come across the Whirlwind in great form. I’ve got years of good snooker left in me.”
White’s qualifying triumph was the highlight of his tournament, as the Whirlwind also crashed out in a 9-8 defeat to Hendry on Monday.
“I probably won’t watch too much more of the snooker to be honest,” said Perry. “It’s what I do so I might escape it for a while and watch a bit of the football. I’m sure builders don’t go home and watch the DIY programmes.”
