Snooker: Dott balls sink Parrott

SNOOKER

GRAEME DOTT scored the best result of his career in Aberdeen last night thanks to help from Terry Griffiths. Dott dashed the hopes of John Parrott with a 5-4 comeback win to reach the quarter-finals of the pounds 370,000 Scottish Open.

And after setting up a meeting against Yorkshireman Paul Hunter, the 21-year-old Scot thanked Griffiths for his part in the victory.

"I went to see Terry after the Welsh Open last month because I was getting to the point of chucking in the game," said Dott. "My results had been dreadful and I didn't even enjoy practice anymore. But Terry set me right on a number of things.

"Snooker is a mental thing and he put my head straight on a few matters. Much of the stuff I already knew but it was just good to talk with someone who has so much knowledge."

Dott, a professional since 1994, came from 4-2 down to beat 1991 world champion Parrott. A break of 107 in frame seven began the revival and he added a half-century in the eighth to level at 4-4. In the decider runs of 27 and 23 ensured Dott booked only the second quarter-final of his career.

Hunter, a second-round winner over Ronnie O'Sullivan, survived a comeback attempt by Dott's fellow Scot, Jamie Burnett, to win 5-4.

Burnett forced a decider after being 4-1 down but was denied at the last gasp by Hunter's run of 53.

Mark Williams stayed on course for a third successive ranking title thanks to his 5-4 win over Matthew Stevens.

"I don't know how I'm still here," said Welsh left-hander Williams, badly hampered by a chest infection. "But I guess winning becomes a habit."

Stevens had a chance to win the decider but on 29 he snookered himself on the pink. Williams eventually produced a 41 clearance started after he trapped his compatriot in a tight snooker.

Grand Prix champion Stephen Lee whitewashed Peter Ebdon who was clearly exhausted after his marathon match the previous night against Jimmy White.