‘It’s upsetting’ – Snooker star, 53, who was famously interrupted by streaker at Crucible retires and reveals new career
DOMINIC DALE has officially retired from snooker because he says he has lost his killer instinct.
And he rates one of his best memories as the moment when a nude man interrupted his match at the highest level of the sport.
On Saturday night, the Welshman was thumped 10-4 by compatriot Daniel Wells in round three of qualifying for the World Snooker Championship, which starts on Easter Saturday.
Spaceman, 53, won two ranking tournaments – ten years apart – he lifted the 1997 Grand Prix in Bournemouth and then the 2007 Shanghai Masters.
He appeared at the Crucible on ten occasions, reaching the quarter-finals twice, in 2000 and 2014.
Dale will now focus on snooker commentary roles, get some reading glasses for his eyes and go running and walking in the Cotswolds where he lives.
He said: “It’s something I’ve built up for since my last match. I haven’t had anything for a while.
“I have tried to create a retirement situation of how I’m going to live my life.
“It’s upsetting to think that you cannot do more than a couple of hours a day before you start getting pain in your shoulders and some of your finger joints.
“I hope my commentary work takes off. I thoroughly enjoy it. It’s tough at the age of 53 to keep playing matches.
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“There are a lot of wonderful memories, all the highs and lows, but a lot of forgetting to do as well.
“It’s tough to have a competitive frame of mind, that killer instinct evident in you, in your mid-50s.
“It’s not something I want to have anymore. Definitely picked the right time to retire.”
Dale – who has now dropped off the World Snooker Tour – will play Craig Steadman at the Crucible next month in the first round of the World Seniors Snooker Championship.
Asked for some of his best stories, he recalled the bizarre incident at the 2002 World Championship when he lost 10-2 to Jimmy White.
Dale had been ill with food poisoning in the days beforehand, pretended to go to sleep in his chair and snapped his cue backstage – while a male streaker, wearing a mask of ex-England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, interrupted the sessions.
He said: “A few things stick out. I got hammered by Jimmy White at the Crucible and a streaker came down!
“Overall, I think I got the best out of myself. I’m very fortunate to have been in two major finals and won them both.
“I have a winning record over people like Neil Robertson and held my own against Shaun Murphy. I find that astonishing.
“Two players there who play with such flamboyance and flair and are incredible players. Little old me here has held my own. I suppose I play snooker in the right way.
“I shall look back on my career and think I did the best I could and was lucky in some regards. Left my mark on the sport. Thank you to everyone for the support.”