Snooker: Missed blacks prove costly for O'brien
Fergal O'Brien lost seven successive frames as his hopes of qualifying for the televised phase of the World Snooker Championship were dashed by Glasgow's Jamie Burnett at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield last night.
O'Brien, a quarter-finalist at the Crucible in 2000, led 6-3 going into the final session but failed to win a single frame on the resumption, losing 10-6.
"I'm gutted to lose," he said. "I missed a black to lead 7-3 and then missed the re-spotted black to lead 7-6.
"It's those two blacks that cost me. They gave him the momentum."
O'Brien, the world No.24, made just one half-century break in the match, a 67, while Burnett compiled a century, 117, and further runs of 64, 68 and 77 to qualify for the Crucible for only the second time in his career, 13 years after the first.
"People had suggested Fergal was a good draw to get but there's no way I'd agree. He's a very tough player and difficult to come back against," said Burnett, the world No 45.
Ken Doherty, required to qualify for the first time in 16 years after dropping out of the elite top 16 last season, faces Kent-based Northern Irishman Gerard Greene today.
