GRAEME DOTT is confident he can thrive in the longer format of the Betfred World Snooker Championship after fighting his way into round two in Sheffield.

The Larkhall potter, who won the tournament in 2006, battled through three best-of-19 qualifying matches to make the main draw before triumphing 10-8 over Ricky Walden.

Dott held a narrow 5-4 advantage going into yesterday's afternoon's session and although he extended that with a run of 49, Walden reeled off three consecutive frames, which included a majestic 104 break, to lead 7-6.

The Scot failed to reach the Crucible for the first time since 1999 12 months ago, but won four of the next five to set up a second round clash with either Mark Allen or Ryan Day.

And the 37-year-old, who has made three World Championship finals in his career, sees no reason why he cannot have another memorable fortnight this time around.

"There's no doubt this longer format suits me, even if I don't quite know why," explained Dott.

"To compare it to horse racing, it's like I'm a Grand National horse, but with the amount of shorter events, all I'm ever running in is seven furlongs and that's not far enough.

"I've won a lot of games here, and that was the same, where I thought Ricky was probably better than me.

"I got there eventually, but I wouldn't have if it was best-of-seven or best-of-nine. I would have been beaten 5-2. That's the big problem for me."

"It's nice to know I can still do it at the Crucible because you think, at 37 years old maybe that is me finished and I'll never qualify again."

Four-time world champion John Higgins is also into round two after a 10-5 win over Gloucester cueman Robert Milkins.

Coming into the tournament, Higgins had won just one main draw match since clinching his fourth World Championship in 2011, but recaptured something of glories past in seeing off Milkins.

A 106 break in the final frame was the highlight, but the man known as 'Wizard of Wishaw' insists he is still not a favourite for the title as he prepares to take on either Ding Junhui or Mark Davis next.

"I think there are more contenders than me out there, to be honest, but I do know what it takes to win it," said Higgins. "Who knows if I've got it in me to do it though?

"The fire is still really strong for me to win number five and, as I said before the tournament, it would be amazing for me to win it and go level with somebody like Ronnie O'Sullivan."

Anthony McGill booked his place in round two with a final-frame century which gave him a dramatic 10-9 victory over Stephen Maguire.

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