Devastated Dott may take a break from snooker

Devastated world champion Graeme Dott forced himself to play despite receiving overnight news that a hospital scan had revealed that his pregnant wife Elaine has a possible cyst or cancer.

Dott, close to tears, said after losing 6-2 to Stephen Lee: "To be honest I couldn't care less. What's happened is much more important than snooker."

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The Dotts, who have a baby son Lewis, face an anxious 48-hour wait for the results of the scan, with the world champion from Larkhall ready to put aside his cue for as long as is necessary.

"I'll have to wait and see what happens, but there's chance I could take a break from the game," he said. "If I wasn't the world champion I wouldn't have played the match. I had a phone call last night which gave me the decision to go home or to stay.

"As I've said, if I'd not have been world champion then I wouldn't have played the match. It was impossible to concentrate. I thought if I played I might feel okay, but obviously I didn't."

Lee had a large slice of luck to lead 2-0, but Dott dug deep and levelled at 2-2 for the mid-session interval, the highlight of his play being breaks of 51 and 91.

But Lee pocketed a 94 break for a 3-2 lead and then won a scrappy sixth frame to regain his two-frame advantage.

However, Lee knocked in an 84 break and then a century in the final frame to go through to the last eight.

"I got off to a lucky start, but I played some good stuff," said Lee. "I didn't really see him (Graeme) as the world champion because he's never beaten me.

"I just thought 'stay calm' - and I tried to put him out. The way I played, I felt good amongst them (the balls). It's just nice when it all comes together."