Graeme Dott was more nervous at having to qualify for the world championship than when he won his first Crucible Theatre crown.
The 32-year-old Scot returned home yesterday following his 10-5 victory against Pontefract potter Jimmy Michie which secured his place in today’s last 32 draw.
Dott, who defeated England’s Peter Ebdon 18-14 to claim the world championship in 2006, says it was a harrowing experience he doesn’t want to go through again.
Dott, now looking forward to maintaining his run of having played in the Sheffield tournament every year since 2000, said: “The sense of relief is unbelievable because playing a world qualifier is the worst game of snooker a professional can face.
“There are so many nerves and tension in a game like that it’s so hard to play well. Luckily I got the job done.
“There was probably more nerves in playing Jimmy than when I won the world title.
“When you are a in a world final you are in the groove because you have already played so many matches to get there.
“But the qualifier I had was a one off and if you lose it you know that’s the end of the road.
“You know you are not going to be playing in Sheffield and if that had happened to me I would have been devastated – it would have been horrible.”
Dott, who lost his first world final to Ronnie O’Sullivan in 2004, added: “I’m trying to get back into the top 16 and if I can get a good run in the last two ranking events of the season, the China Open and the world championship, who knows what might happen?
“I really don’t care who I get in the draw. I’m just happy to be there.”
Dott will be joined in Sheffield by fellow Scots, defending world champion John Higgins, Stephen Maguire, seven-times world champion Stephen Hendry and fellow qualifier Marcus Campbell.