DOMINIC DALE is now set to head to London for punditry duty after losing in the first round of the World Snooker Championship.
The Welshman, 52, qualified for the event for the first time in 10 years.
His reward was a first round clash with 2020 finalist Kyren Wilson.
Unfortunately for Dale, his Crucible return did not last long.
Dale, nicknamed “The Spaceman” was beaten 10-1 by Wilson, who will now face Joe O’Connor in round two.
Now that his playing commitments are over, Dale will head down to London from Sheffield in order to join the Eurosport punditry team for the remainder of the tournament.
Dale spoke a bit of German as he addressed the crowd prior to the start of the second session at 10am.
He later explained: “I met some fans from Vienna over breakfast at the hotel.
“This lady said: ‘The MC mentions people from Finland and all over Europe but every time I put my hand up, I never get picked.’
“I said, I’m 8-1 down, I will go out before I play – I wouldn’t have done this at 5-4 down – and say a few words.
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“I’ll say: ‘Is anybody from Vienna?’ We had a bit of a chat. I said a couple of things in German. Like have fun. Stay healthy.”
On his bruising defeat, he added: “It’s tough to take. I’m very surprised I struggled so much.
“The Crucible is unique, it’s different and confined. I played somebody who didn’t give me too many opportunities.
“Kyren started off like an Express Train. His game is in wonderful shape. He could be a contender – and I hope he is. It was a battle for me mentally.
“I was battling the occasion as much as anything else.
“You could see the difference between someone who is a top-16 seed against a qualifier.
“I was like a fish out of water. Kyren absolutely annihilated me. It’s not very often I get completely spifflicated.
“So, 10-1 is humiliating. But would rather suffer an annihilation like that than lose 10-9 on a black after being 9-7 up. That really hurts.
“I was never in this match. It’s just disappointing I didn’t perform like I have done all season.
“But at 52, I’m very privileged and lucky to be here. I’m amazed to experience it again.”
Davis, the oldest qualifier for this event since Steve Davis in 2010, was not joined by girlfriend Anne as she had to work in Gloucestershire.
The couple are, however, planning on travelling to her father’s place in Burgundy next month.
