Dott falls at first hurdle

The Scot suffered a 10-7 defeat to McCulloch to ensure that once again a first-time winner has never come back to make a successful defence of their title.

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"The way (Ian) plays frustrated the life out of me, but I beat myself really," said a downbeat Dott.

"I've never felt like that. I felt as though I was letting him beat me. I felt absolutely horrible, that defeat has ruined a perfectly good season.

"I didn't want to say anything before the tournament in case it gave Ian a boost, but he was probably the worst draw I could have got." Dott trailed 5-4 after the first session of his best-of-19 clash, but should have led 5-2 if he not missed a pot on the black ball.

The 29-year-old Larkhall cueman failed to find top gear in the concluding session as the Preston left-hander grabbed an impressive victory to earn himself a place in the next phase.

"I like Graeme, I don't get any satisfaction about beating him, but I'll win any way I can," said McCulloch.

"He didn't fancy beating me. He made it hard, I made it hard, but felt really good going into the last session and felt I could beat him.

"You don't become world champion if you're a muppet. Graeme has been a good world champion, but I'll take any win. I'll battle it out if I'm going to be world champion."

It did not start well for Dott who, with his disappointing defeat, is now likely to miss out on being crowned the new world number one this season.

Last month he powered his way to victory in the China Open final in Beijing, dispensing with 'Rocket' Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semi-finals.

But it was a different story on the opening day of this year's competition in South Yorkshire as he compiled just three half-century breaks in a scrappy contest.

McCulloch had match breaks of 46, 63, 110, 51 and, from 5-4 ahead after the first nine frames, always led before a second-round showdown with either Anthony Hamilton or Marco Fu.

Nottingham's Hamilton opened up a healthy 6-1 advantage over Hong Kong's Fu, a Crucible semi-finalist last season, before their match was dragged off set two frames early because it was going too slowly.

Golden oldie John Parrott led fellow veteran Steve Davis 6-3 in their first-round clash courtesy of breaks of 90, 126 and 55.

Meanwhile, Welshman Matthew Stevens made the perfect start to his championship campaign by establishing a welcome 7-2 lead over Crucible debutant Joe Delaney.

Dubliner Delaney, making his first appearance at the Crucible since turning pro 16 years ago, struggled badly to find any form against Stevens, the 2005 runner-up, who took full advantage to leave himself needing three frames for a place in the next round.

World number 14 Stevens was not at his sparkling best, but breaks of 60, 45, 69 and 53 were enough for the former UK champion to power ahead against the Irish qualifier.

Delaney pocketed a high break of 73 to win his first frame when trailing 6-0, but Stevens won the next frame to keep his title hopes on track.

His opponent kept his slim hopes of reaching the next round alive by pinching the last frame of the session, but has a mountain to climb if he is going to progress.