Joe Perry eases through at Dafabet Masters

Cambridge-based potter sets up Ding quarter-final

Joe Perry cast aside a difficult spell of form by moving into the quarter-finals of the Dafabet Masters at Alexandra Palace.

Perry, who trains in Cambridge at WT’s Sports Bar, has been on a difficult run of form, but he put in an impressive display to beat world No 2 Stuart Bingham 6-1 on Monday night.

“I’m thrilled with my performance,” 42-year-old Perry told World Snooker.

“It was totally unexpected but you just never know when you’re going to hit form at this game. I’ve probably been playing some of the worst snooker I’ve ever played in my career over the past few months.

“It’s nice to win here. It’s stopped the mad thoughts I’ve had about not ever playing again. That winning feeling is great, I don’t think you can replace that with anything.

“I was never ever going to give up snooker, I just fell out of love with it for a while. Twenty five years in the same job is hard.”

It is only the second time that Perry has reached the quarter-finals of the Masters, and he will next face Ding Junhui on Friday.

“I’ll have some friends supporting me against Ding,” said Perry. “I’m not going to put any pressure on myself again.

“I wasn’t going to beat myself up because I missed a couple of easy balls, which is probably what I’ve been doing. I put too much pressure on myself to play well and if you do that, there’s only one way you can go.”