Graeme Dott took a pot shot at World Snooker chief Barry Hearn after clinching a Crucible return.

The 2006 World Championship winner was furious he had to survive three best-of-19-frame qualifiers just to reach the televised first-round stage in Sheffield.
The Scot, ranked 19th in the world, received a bye to the final preliminary round last season, but this time overcame the little-known Mark Owens and Fraser Patrick before fending off China’s Yu De Lu 10-7 in a tense tussle.
Dott swelled a hefty Scottish contingent in Thursday’s first-round draw, with the 37-year-old Larkhall cueman joined by Alan
McManus and newcomer Anthony McGill.
High-flyers John Higgins and Stephen Maguire were already sure to feature in the tournament which starts on Saturday.
Welsh success also arrived at Ponds Forge, a short walk downhill from the Crucible, with Matthew Stevens, Ryan Day and Jamie Jones battling through, along with England’s Mark Davis and Mancunian debutant Craig Steadman.
The world’s top 15 are automatically entered, along with Ali Carter, who stood 13th when he was diagnosed with lung cancer last May. Healthy again, Carter has fallen to 31st, but his previous standing has been frozen at tournaments.
Welshman Michael White, the Indian Open champion who stands 16th in the world rankings, suffered a frustrated exit in the second qualifying round.
Dott’s grievance was with the overall system, and he said: “Of course it’s not fair.
“You’ve got debates on TV with politicians, but if you had a debate between Barry Hearn and me, and the
public actually heard what I’m trying to say, how could anybody think it’s fair that Michael White finishes 16th and he’s three rounds
behind the guy at 15th?”
Hearn has repeatedly insisted the system offers opportunity for all.
Sarcastically, Dott said: “Is that me at the Crucible? So I don’t need to do anything else? No beep tests, or assault course or anything?
“I’d take Ronnie O’Sullivan in the first round. Why not? Nobody’s going to want to draw me.”
The 1997 world champion, Ken Doherty, lost 10-3 to Mark Davis. Former semi-finalist McManus saw off Mitchell Mann 10-6, and McGill fired a break of 127 to tie up a 10-9 win over Mark King.
McGill said: “I’ve watched it every year and oh my God it’s just like Mecca, and now I’ve got a chance to actually play there.”
McManus, who made his World Championship debut in 1991, has taken fellow-Glaswegian McGill under his wing.
“I’m more excited for Ants getting through than I am for myself,” McManus said. “I think he could win up the road one day – maybe not this year, possibly though.”
Steadman earned a Cruc-ible debut at the age of 32, and said: “I haven’t spoken to my dad yet. He’s a lorry driver. He’s probably crashed looking at the live scores. I’m not saying he’s using his phone when he’s driving!”