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Snooker: Time for Welsh win – Dale

DOMINIC DALE believes the time is right for a home winner at snooker’s Welsh Open again.

Former world champion Mark Williams was the last Welshman to win the tournament in 1999.

But world No 31 Dale – who narrowly failed to make the last four of the Malta Open last week – reckons there will be a strong home push when the action starts in Newport today.

“The fans deserve a chance to see a Welshman win it, they come here every year to support us,” said Dale, part of a competing Welsh quartet alongside Williams, Ryan Day and Matthew Stevens.

“That in a way creates a bit more pressure for us, but I don’t see it that way.

I see it as a positive thing and I feel that we owe the fans a Welsh win.

“With the crowd supporting you, it can give you the lift you need to perform.

“I thoroughly enjoy the whole tournament. It is the one I look forward to the most of all behind the world championships.

“It is really exciting to play at home, the buzz I get is fantastic.”

Dale, the reigning Shanghai Masters champion, was only just squeezed out of the last four in the round-robin Malta Open event.

So he heads home in confident mood and knows that the Welsh Open always seems to throw up upsets with more celebrated names becoming victims.

“Every year there seems to be shocks and great matches, just look at the recent finals,” he said.

“With three of the finals going the full distance, it really does live up to expectations.

“The shock factor also makes it fantastic, last year Anthony Higginson got to the final and nearly beat Neil Robertson.

“That’s a good thing going into a tournament because every player feels they’ve got a chance to do something special.”

On his current form, Dale said, “My form in Malta was good – I am very happy with my all-round game. I am hitting the ball well and they all seem to be potted. I was happy to use Malta as a practice tournament, but this is where the serious stuff begins because it is a big tournament with ranking points at stake.

“The aim is to do well in Newport and climb the rankings as much as possible.

“I had the ideal preparation in Mata and I feel I’m capable of playing well in Wales.”

Dale suffered with stomach cramps in his victory over Peter Ebdon last week, but denied that it had anything to do with a good night on the town the previous evening.

“I was struggling every time I bent over to take a shot,” said Dale, who had to dash to the toilet at the end of the fourth frame to be sick.

“But I was not hung over. I shared a couple of bottles of wine with business associates and enjoyed myself, but I was not drunk. My head felt fine.”