April 21st 2024.
Ali Carter's performance at the Crucible was a major disappointment for him. Along with fellow snooker player Ricky Walden, he suffered a defeat in the opening round of the World Snooker Championship. Both players were left feeling devastated after being beaten by their opponents, Stephen Maguire and Tom Ford respectively.
For Ali, it was a tough match against Maguire, as he struggled to find his usual form. Despite this, he managed to keep up with Maguire and the match was tied at 7-7. However, Maguire ultimately emerged as the victor, much to the disappointment of Ali and the crowd in Sheffield. Ali expressed his frustration at not being able to perform at his best, especially after his strong showings in other events over the past year and a half.
He admitted, "I wasn't good at all. I hung in there the whole time, but I have to say it was probably the worst match I've played all season. I really struggled." It was a disappointing result for Ali, who has now suffered back-to-back first round exits at the Crucible. He also felt that he may have been running on empty towards the end of the season, which could have affected his performance.
Despite his disappointment, Ali gave credit to Maguire for playing well and acknowledged that it was a tough match. He also pointed out that a few unfortunate flukes by Maguire at crucial moments made all the difference. Ali acknowledged that in snooker, a single mistake or stroke of luck can turn the game around. He remained positive, saying, "On any given day, things can go wrong for you. Unfortunately, today was not my day. But I'm looking forward to a few months off and coming back stronger next year."
Meanwhile, Maguire was pleased with his victory and admitted that his emotional reaction at the end was a rare occurrence. He said, "I hardly ever do that, just a little clenched fist, but it was a tough, tough match." He also mentioned that he has never won the World Snooker Championship and is now focused on his next match.
Ricky Walden also suffered a defeat in the opening round, losing 10-6 to Tom Ford. Although he managed to make a brilliant break of 142, he struggled to maintain consistency throughout the match. He expressed his disappointment, saying, "I didn't turn up all game and couldn't get my game out there. It was a pretty rubbish few days."
On the other hand, Tom Ford was overjoyed with his first Crucible win after four previous first round exits. He admitted that he had put a lot of pressure on himself in the past, but the relief of finally winning a match at the Crucible was immense. He said, "I'm actually smiling for a change! It feels good. I didn't realise it would feel this good to be honest." At the age of 40, Ford is still going strong and hopes to continue his good form in the tournament.
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