Steve Davis suffered his most humiliating defeat ever at the UK Championships last night. Davis, who has been coming to Preston's Guild Hall since 1979, winning the title on six occasions, was thrashed 9-2 by Kent youngster Gerard Greene.
"I'm sad because this is the last time the championship will be held in Preston and to not get my teeth into it is a major disappointment," said Davis. "However, to play this game I am told you have to pot the balls and today I forgot the rules.
"Gerard played with a lot of fluency, but I certainly helped him along the way," said six-time world champion Davis, whose last UK success came 10 years ago.
This was only the second time he has lost his opening match at Preston. He was 5-0 down to world number 62 Greene from Rainham before he made a worthwhile scoring contribution. Back to back breaks of 69 and 61 reduced the deficit but, like Scotsman John Higgins earlier, Davis could not prevent an upset defeat.
Greene, stablemate of 1995 UK runner up Peter Ebdon, finished the first session 6-2 in front. He came out in the evening and fluked the final pink to lead 7-2. The final two frames were clearer cut and settled by vital runs of 36 and 38.
"This defeat reminds me of a comment Barry Hearn made to Terry Griffiths back in the eighties," recalled Davis ruefully. "Terry phoned to tell him he'd lost and Barry's reply was - `What's one more disaster in a series of disasters?' "
Earlier, world number two Higgins crashed out 9-4 to Bristol's Gary Ponting. "I didn't show Gary enough respect," said the 22year-old second favourite, who had resumed yesterday 7-1 down.
"I did the same to Dominic Dale and it cost me the Grand prix title. I thought I'd learnt a lesson but obviously I haven't," said Higgins, after one of the great Guild Hall upsets of the decade.
