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Nottingham's Anthony Hamilton not worried about slipping outside top 64 in world as he exits UK Championship

By Nottingham Post  |  Posted: December 01, 2014

Anthony Hamilton (pictured) and Michael Holt both exited the UK Championships.

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NOTTINGHAM'S Anthony Hamilton is not concerned about slipping outside the world's top 64 players after his second-round exit at the UK Snooker Championship.

The world No.50 was beaten 6-4 by Graeme Dott at the York Barbican as his frustrating season, in which he has failed to progress beyond the second round of any tour event, continued.

And the 43-year-old – once among the game's top ten players – conceded his passion for snooker is fading fast.

"You keep your place in the top 64 between your ears," he said.

"The bottom of the tour is not that strong in my opinion so you can nurdle your way through and stay on tour.

"I am ranked 50; I was 61 at some point last year. Never say never but I cannot imagine I will be panicking about my ranking.

"I don't practice much anymore. I only play because it is better than working. I will have to work for a long time so I just want to swerve it for as long as possible."

Defeat to former world champion Dott denied Hamilton a place in the last 32 of the UK Championship and he was quick to blame playing conditions on the day.

"I am not happy that I lost but I am happy with the effort I gave," he added.

"Graeme is a great lad, a great player and I like him a lot. He played poorly and so did I but he was a bit less poor.

"The table was the worst I had played on for years; it did not even look like it was ironed or brushed at the start of the match – I queried this with the ref before we started.

"The table fitters are not trying, they are not ironing the table properly. I buy from the same people and a cloth that is four months old never looks as bad as when we started.

"In 24 years I have never seen a table like it. It played terribly all the way through and it ruins better players than me – just look at Graeme's game."

Elsewhere the misery continued for Nottingham's snooker stars as world No.23 Michael Holt crashed out of the tournament, 6-3 to Dechawat Poomjaeng – his first loss to the Thai player.

The defeat continues a poor run of form for the 36-year-old, who has failed to progress beyond the third round in any tournament so far this season.

"I was awful. I didn't play very well and lost. I got my chances and didn't pot the balls so that is what happens," said Holt.

"I just missed when I had chances; if you miss balls you get beat and it is as simple as that really. There isn't anything more you can say about it.

"I really don't know what is next; I will have a few days off and see how I feel. I am not going to practice for the next few days – that is guaranteed."

British Eurosport is the Home of Snooker, showing 19 tournaments per season including the World Championship, UK Championship the Masters and all other ranking events. Available on Sky, Virgin Media & BT TV or online/mobile via eurosportplayer.com #eurosportsnooker

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