Hann - flying start in Sheffield. (Getty Images)
HANN TAKES CONTROL
Quinten Hann made a pledge to reform his bad boy ways after reaching the last
16 of the Embassy World Championship in Sheffield on Sunday but not before going out
to get "steaming drunk".
Hann defeated John Parrott 10-5 to ensure the former champion must now swop
his cue for a microphone.
And while Parrott heads for the television studio Hann returns to his London
base to celebrate his opening win.
"I'm going to go out, get really drunk and then get back to practising hard
for my next match," announced the world number 14 whose victory practically
rubber-stamped his place in the top 16 for next season.
"If I dropped out I would probably have gone back to Australia, messed around
and tried to nick a bit of money here and there.
"I don't really expect too much of myself here after just six weeks'
practice.
"But if I get my head down I can see if I am able to improve. Who knows I
might only ever play to this sort of ranking.
"But if I don't put in the work I'll never find out how high I can get.
"I played eight tournaments last season and hardly picked up my cue to
practice.
"The wins didn't mean much and neither did the losses. I was just hitting
balls around," added Hann who dropped only one frame on Sunday after resuming with
a 5-4 overnight lead.
"To be honest I didn't play well in this match even though I've knuckled
down.
"I seem to play better when I don't practice but I'm sure that will all
change," added Hann who now meets another former champion, Mark Williams, or
Lancashire qualifier Stuart Pettman.
It was a professional job by Hann who once conceded a frame in the Irish
Masters with 13 reds on the table.
He has also resisted the temptation to smash up the balls from the break as he
had done against Stephen Lee in last year's world championship. Unsurprisingly -
he went down 13-3.
"Quinten is a very capable player and looks to have a different attitude this
year," said disappointed Parrott.
"I noticed he was taking more time over his shots and you can't slag him off
for that.
"Last year he was criticised for coming and smashing up the ball."
Parrott was still in contention when he trailed only 6-5 but one bad shot in
frame 12 transformed the contest.
"I had just made a great 60 break in the last frame and had cued as well as
I'd done all season," he explained.
"Then I missed a red that was a real killer," he said. "It was a blow to
the solar plexus.
"I'd got myself in a good position and then that happens.
"But I've been missing one vital ball in every frame all season," he
groaned.
"It's a totally unforced error under no pressure at all. Then you spend the
rest of the match wondering how it happened.
"Quinten gets a real fillip from seeing me miss and he didn't miss much after
that.
Despite his first round exit the 38-year-old Liverpudlian should retain his
top 32 status next season.
"If I had dropped out I might have drifted out of the game," admitted
Parrott after his 20th consecutive Crucible appearance came to an end.
"But I know I can still be competitive and play to a better standard than I
showed on Sunday.
"Three or four years ago Steve Davis was really in the wilderness and
couldn't pot a ball. He was in a terrible state but now he's back in the top 16
again and really competitive.
"I know if I can cut out these unforced errors I will be a lot more
dangerous.
"Mind you, I obviously didn't think I was going to get that far. I bought 17
shirts for the television but none to play snooker in.
"That's why I had to nip out to Marks and Spencer 10 minutes before I played
to buy a new one."
In the other morning match Scotsman Graeme Dott came from 4-3 down to gain a
5-4 overnight lead over Gloucester qualifier Robert Milkins.
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