SHEFFIELD potter Daniel Wells has failed to qualify for this season's Betfred.com World Championship.
Wells, who lives in the city centre and whom practices at the English Institute of Sport, slipped to a frustrating 10-7 defeat in the first round of qualifying at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield yesterday.
And with his loss to Londoner D
avid Gray, the world No 81's hopes of playing at the famous Crucible Theatre were ended.
"I just didn't play very well," reflected Wells. "It's so disappointing because I know I can play a lot better than that.
"I felt good but I let him (Gray] get too much of a lead and I was playing catch-up after that.
"The third frame was a key frame, he needed three snookers to win it and he got them.
"The momentum was with him then and I was always trying to get back in the match after that."
Wells had breaks of 77, 52, 61, 82 and 49, but it was former ranking event winner Gray who deservedly progressed having pocketed runs of 71, 42, 62, 45 and 85.
Gray said his performance was one of his best of the season and added: "I have been practising down in Romford with Judd Trump and Matt Selt and that seems to have helped.
"I've not really done anything for a couple of seasons. It's difficult when you're confidence is so low, it's hard to build yourself up again. I'm still looking at one match at a time, trying to enjoy the game more."
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