Davis: I'm over Crucible blues

13 April 2012

Steve Davis insists he has come to terms with missing out on the Crucible for the first time in 23 years and is determined to enjoy himself at his closing tournament of the season.  

And the six-times world champion, beaten in the final qualifying round of this year's tournament, gave himself a much-needed boost in Aberdeen this afternoon by reaching the last 32 of the Regal Scottish Open.

A 5-0 whitewash of Peterborough left-hander Mark Gray was the first victory Davis has managed in a world ranking event since the UK Championship last November.

But 43 year-old Davis, advised to retire by friend and one-time rival Terry Griffiths last month, refuses to become too depressed over his lack of form.

"After I lost in the Embassy, my enthusiasm for the game waned," said Davis.

"Not having the Crucible as the finale for the season was a downer. It felt very flat, but now I've come to terms with it.

"I'm going to enjoy this regardless and I'm not going to take it too hard if I lose. I suppose you could say that's accepting the outcome, but I think that's the way to approach it.

Davis, though, who stands 20th in the provisional world rankings, has given up any hope of regaining his place in the elite top 16 next season.

He said: "I think to do that I've got to win the tournament, then beat half the crowd in a challenge match as well. I've just got to come back after the summer and give it another bash."

World number 82 Gray made the veteran's life relatively easy by committing a number of expensive mistakes and Davis, who fired in an 86 break during frame four, comfortably secured a second-round meeting with John Higgins.

"I've missed most of the season messing up opportunities, but today I controlled the pace of the table and fortunately Mark didn't do much," said Davis.

"It was a good way to get your teeth into the tournament."

Davis, who provided himself with a much-needed injection of confidence by surprisingly beating Ken Doherty en route to the quarter-finals of the recent Irish Masters, added: "I'm really looking forward to playing John.

"That won't be flat."

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