World Snooker Championship star’s shot prices him body in cruellest means as followers ‘feel sick’
Englishman Ricky Walden faced Zak Surety in World Snooker Championship qualifying and was left cursing his luck as he lost a frame in the most unfortunate fashion
Snooker fans were left gobsmacked when a World Championship hopeful’s shot went disastrously wrong, practically costing him a frame in the most heart-wrenching manner.
Zak Surety charged past Ricky Walden with a commanding 10-3 victory in the qualifiers on Wednesday to secure his place at the World Snooker Championship. Surety, ranked 73rd in the world, stormed into the Crucible for the first time ever, leaving his opponent, three-time ranking event champion Walden, likely fuming over a decisive misfortune.
At a critical moment in the match, with Walden trailing 7-3, he fluffed an easy pink off the spot after what had been some slick play. Walden was left with a challenging shot, aiming to pot the pink via the black into a corner pocket – a feat he accomplished, but then watched in despair as the black trickled into the middle pocket.
Commentator Ken Doherty was at a loss for words over Walden’s appalling luck, and made his anguish known as he talked fans through the ordeal for the WST.
“Is he going to try to knock the pink off the black and try to put it in the corner pocket? I think he can play this shot, you know, off the black. Just watch the right corner pocket here,” uttered the veteran Doherty.
“There you go, now where’s the black… it’s going close, it’s going in! It can’t go in! Ah, you’re joking me! That’s so unfair.
“That was such an unbelievable shot he played. How’s he knocked the black in there? That was unbelievable.”
Although the shot didn’t directly result in Walden losing the frame, he ultimately did. Fans expressed their astonishment on social media, posting: “Absolutely vile luck,” and “OH MY GOD I FEEL SICK!”
Another reacted on X saying, “Snooker Gods are having the last laugh here!” Followed by more users chipping in with: “That’s brutal,” and “So unlucky for Ricky.”
However, the 33-year-old Surety was more focused on his upcoming World Championship debut, after he eventually edged past the unlucky Walden, saying: “I am the biggest World Championship fan.
“I listen to the draw every year and this time I’m actually in it. I will probably be up at 5 am getting nervous waiting for it. When I lost in the semis in China (6-5 to John Higgins having led 5-3) it was devastating.
“I was thinking today, it can’t happen again can it? Surely it’s my turn for a nice drive home with a smile on my face. I must be doing something right. When Ricky shook my hand I have never been so relieved.”
There will be 16 qualifiers who will join the 16 seeded players in the first round proper, and who the likes of Surety will play at the Crucible will be decided during the first-round draw on Thursday evening.
