Gunnell out-gunned as Davis heads to Crucible

The Shropshire cueman was beaten 10-4 by six-times world champion Steve Davis at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield yesterday.

It means Davis, now 52, has reached the final stages at the Crucible Theatre an incredible 30 times - and he will have appeared on snooker's biggest stage in five different decades.

In contrast, Gunnell, is still waiting for his first ever trip to the Crucible after suffering the sixth World Championship final qualifying round defeat of his career.

"I'm disappointed but I'm not shocked," said the 37-year-old from Telford.

"It's the same story every year in the last round of the World Championships and it seems I've got a mental block in the last qualifying round of this tournament.

"It's as though I'm trying too hard not to lose the game instead of trying to win it.

"But full credit it to Steve. He played as well as he I have seen him play for two years and the right man won."

Gunnell's hopes were left in tatters in the opening session as he found himself 6-1 down. Two century breaks - including a 104 when he missed the penultimate red in search of a maximum 147 clearance and a cheque of £5,500 - made it 6-3 and gave him hope for the evening session.

But Davis won four of the first five frames to end Gunnell's World Championship hopes - and his season.