CHRIS WAKELIN refused to blame referee Peggy Li after his controversial World Snooker Championship exit – and gave a scathing assessment of his own performance.
The two-time ranking winner, 34, missed out on a place in thanks to a 13-7 defeat to Neil Robertson.
Chris Wakelin slammed his own performance after losing to Neil Robertson Credit: Alamy
The potter was left with his head in his hands after a controversial foul was called against him Credit: Alamy
But after Li called a foul on him during the 14th frame.
He was attempting to level the Crucible showdown at 7-7 when he potted a long red, only to be penalised for allegedly brushing the yellow with his cue on the follow-through.
The decision was upheld following a TV review despite Wakelin being confident he had not made an error.
And profited, winning six of the next seven frames to keep his hopes of a second world title alive.
But chose to blast his own display instead of using Li’s contentious decision as an excuse.
The world No13 said: “She was in the best position to see. I was looking at the red because it was a difficult pot anyway, so I wasn’t even looking at the white ball or the yellow.
“She was standing in the right place. If she thought it was a foul, then I trust Peggy.
“I’d watched it back 100 times and I’d have my house that it wasn’t a foul, but it’s one of them, it’s frustrating.
The foul against Wakelin was upheld after referee Peggy Li reviewed footage Credit: Alamy
The two-time ranking winner missed out on a spot in the quarter-finals Credit: Alamy
“The bottom line is I’ve got nothing against , she’s a brilliant referee, but I just didn’t play well enough.
“Me watching it back myself, I couldn’t see it. If I’d have had one little piece of evidence that went, there you go, it was a foul, I could have just accepted it.
“I think we need to get some higher resolution cameras next season so we can check these things out.
“I played like a berk, that’s why I lost. You’re playing against one of the best players in the world and you can make all these excuses.
“But did I play well enough to win? It was my own fault, I lost. I’m not going to blame anyone else.”
Robertson is facing John Higgins, who in a Crucible classic, for a spot in the semi-finals.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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