WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATION A MUST FOR DOTT.
By John Docherty.
GRAEME DOTT admits the prospect of not playing at this year's Betfred.com World Championship is something he' would rather not think about.
The 32--year-old Scot, who lifted the world title in 2006 after beating Peter Ebdon 18-14 in the final, has made the pilgrimage to the Crucible Theatre every year since 2000.
Whether or not he's going to be packing his bags again for next month's snooker's marathon showcase will all hang on his make-or-break qualifier against Pontefract potter Jimmy Michie at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
Dott, who is fighting to get back into the top 16, admits having to qualify is a frightening prospect although he's confident his vast experience will pull him through.
Dott, world runner-up to Ronnie O'Sullivan in 2004, said : "This is a massive match for me, one of the biggest of my career.
"No-one likes having to go through the qualifiers because there is so much at stake.
"I have been playing OK and I am confident enough. It's years since I have played Jimmy, he's been about for a while and he is a good player. Like myself he'll be desperate to win this match.
"To be honest, I cannot bear to even think about not qualifying. Put it this way, if the worse came to to the worst and I wasn't there I would not be watching it on the TV. It would be just too hard to take.
"The world championship has played a huge role in my snooker career.
"When I won it it meant everything. When you are a kid coming through the ranks you dream about qualifying.
"Once you get there you dream about winning it and when I picked up the trophy it was a dream come true.
"I've just got to play as well as I can and hopefully that will be enough. I'm playing a lot better now and definitely getting there..
"I want to get back into the top 16 because having to go through the qualifers is not a pleasant experience.
"There are two ranking events left this season, the China Open and the World Championship and I would like to finish on a high if it's at all possible,"
Given what he has achieved in Sheffield it will be a surprise if Dott fails to deliver the goods.