World Championship 2025: Jack Lisowski suffers shock exit as Dominic Dale and Joe Perry retire after defeats in Crucible qualifying
Published 13/04/2025 at 08:23 GMT+1
Jack Lisowski bowed out of the World Championship in the third round of qualifying on Saturday after losing the final five frames against Zak Surety from 8-5 ahead to suffer a shock 10-8 loss. It was a day that also saw the end of the lengthy careers of seasoned ranking event winners Dominic Dale and Joe Perry, who confirmed their decision to retire following defeats in Crucible qualifying.
O'Sullivan on how Reardon turned him into a 'chess player'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Jack Lisowski will not be appearing at the Crucible this year after losing 10-8 to world No. 73 Zak Surety in the third round of qualifying at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
And for ranking event winners Dominic Dale and Joe Perry, the final matches of their respective 33-year careers also came to a disappointing conclusion on Saturday after both were eliminated at the same stage.
Dale lost 10-4 to fellow Welshman Daniel Wells, while Perry suffered a 10-5 defeat to Yuan Sijun, who reeled off the final seven frames of the match from 5-3 behind to book his spot in the fourth and final qualifying round against Zhou Yuelong.
"There's people I'd like to swap careers with, and I'm sure there are plenty out there that would like to have had mine," said 2022 Welsh Open champion Perry.
"I've got no regrets. I've given snooker everything and the time has come. I'm absolutely fine with it."
The highlights of Dale's career saw him win the British Open in 1997 and the Shanghai Masters a decade later.
"I think I've got the best out of myself," said Dale, who led Wells 4-2 before losing the final eight frames.
"I'm very fortunate to have been in two major ranking finals and won them both, as well as the Shoot Out.
"I shall look back on my career and think I did the best I could. I've left my mark on the sport."
- World Snooker Championship qualifying: How it works, results and schedule
- White likely to be offered new tour card despite World Championship exit
- Former Crucible king Brecel set for record-breaking drop in world rankings
Wells will next take on Gary Wilson on Tuesday for a Crucible spot after the former Scottish and Welsh Open winner thumped Hammad Miah 10-1 with a 129 break and five more 50-plus knocks.
But Wilson's fellow former Crucible semi-finalist Anthony McGill is out of this year's event after going down 10-5 to Aaron Hill, who faces David Gilbert for a spot in the last 32 after last year's semi-finalist overcame Gong Chenzhi 10-6.
In bizarre scenes, Gong was docked the fifth frame after returning late from the mid-session interval.
Meanwhile, world No. 25 Lisowski had led Surety 8-5 with two century breaks and three 50-plus knocks, but shipped the final five frames to crash out with Surety producing runs of 100, 80, 64 and 103 to seal his progress.
Recent World Open semi-finalist Surety will next face Ricky Walden, who came from 7-2 down to defeat Mitchell Mann 10-9 on the final black, for a spot at the Crucible.
John Higgins won the final three frames from 5-3 down against the Basildon player in the World Open last four last month, including recovering from 41-0 behind in the decider, before defeating Joe O'Connor 10-6 in the final in Yushan.
"I’m buzzing. I’m a bit speechless. I’ve got a few scars from the semi-final in China," said Surety.
"When I got to nine, all I could think about was John Higgins clearing up against me. I had to tell myself to shut up.
"I’m delighted that I managed to hold my nerve. Especially in the World Championship and against Jack.
"It will be a new experience playing on Judgement Day. It is something I've watched every year and I've never quite got there. I'm excited.
"If I play like that I have every chance of doing well. I need to try and go in and play it like every other match.
"It obviously isn't, but I'll enjoy this win, go in full of confidence and try my best."
Meanwhile, 1997 world champion Ken Doherty was drubbed 10-2 by David Lilley earlier on Saturday to suffer an exit in the second round of qualifying.
Saturday's third qualifying round results
- Ricky Walden 10-9 Mitchell Mann
- Gary Wilson 10-1 Hammad Miah
- Jack Lisowski 8-10 Zak Surety
- Anthony McGill 5-10 Aaron Hill
- David Gilbert 10-6 Gong Chenzhi
- Yuan Sijun 10-5 Joe Perry
- Zhou Yuelong 10-5 Ishpreet Singh Chadha
- Dominic Dale 4-10 Daniel Wells
- - -
Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Thoughts?
Advertisement
Advertisement