Joe Perry defeated Mark Davis in dramatic fashion this week to seal a spot at the World Snooker Championship.
Perry beat his fellow Englishman - one of his best friends in snooker - 10-9. In the deciding frame, it appeared that the 50-year-old Davis was about to earn a place at the Crucible. However, an excruciating miss on the pink handed Perry the chance to claim victory.
The 48-year-old took his opportunity despite feeling "physically sick" for his friend as he stepped to the table. Part of the reason for Perry's queasiness was knowing Davis would have to go through Q School to regain his professional status.
One of the most dramatic finishes you will ever see 🤯
With his professional status and a Crucible place on the line, Mark Davis MISSES match ball pink, and Joe Perry clears up!#JudgementDay pic.twitter.com/UEMawodeWs— World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) April 12, 2023
"I don't know what to feel, actually," Perry said after the victory.
'One of my best friends in snooker'
"I was sick when I missed the black off the spot because I would have been pleased that I'd won a good decider.
"Mark was clearing up, and making such a good break, and we all know what was at stake for him. He has been a professional since 1991. That would have been some break under pressure. He did all the hard work, finished a fraction the wrong side of the blue, but missed [the pink].
"I came to the table, and I felt physically sick for him. It was a horrible feeling because he's one of my best friends, and has been for a long time in snooker.
"I genuinely felt sick. I potted the pink and I potted a great black. I should be absolutely delighted. I should be over the moon. It's weird.
"I'm chuffed to bits to go to the Crucible, but the way it's happened I just feel so sick for him. If I'd won 10-4, 10-5, I'd be sitting here totally different - delighted, happy. The way it's happened, I just feel so sick for him."
"I came to the table and felt physically sick for him...he's one of my best friends."
Joe Perry beats Mark Davis in a deciding frame on the black, to earn his place at the Crucible 🤯#JudgementDay pic.twitter.com/sr9CukAJIi— World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) April 12, 2023
Perry continued: "At the time, I would have been OK with him fluking the pink. Don't get me wrong, I really want to go to the Crucible - I'm going to love it.
"It never bothered me the whole match that he's going to drop off the tour if I won. It never entered my head once until that clearance. It must have hit him like a tonne of bricks because it hit me."
Perry, who reached the World Snooker Championship semi-finals in 2008, will play Robert Milkins in the opening round.
"I didn't know if I'd ever play at the Crucible again," he said.
"That was my dream when I turned pro. I wasn't deluded like a lot of players. I didn't dream of being world snooker champion because I know that's extra special talent that you need. To play at the Crucible was one of my dreams, and I'd done that a long, long time ago.
"I've had some horror shows there in the past, and also some good times. It's the best place to play snooker. They're the best fans in the world. It's the best occasion, and I just can't wait to get back there."
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