text: Graeme Dott fears exhaustion will kill off his hopes of winning snooker’s Betfred World Championship. The 37-year-old, a qualifier this year, survived a series of twitches close to the winning line before clinching a 10-8 first-round victory over Ricky Walden at the Crucible in Sheffield on Sunday. He bungled a yellow but was reprieved when Walden blazed the green off the table. And although Walden looked for snookers, his tournament was over once Dott dropped in the blue. Dott, who is through to the last 16, remains aggrieved by having to play three best-of-19-frame matches just to get to the main draw. The previous format meant a player of his standing had just one to negotiate. Graeme Dott celebrates after booking his place in the second round of the World Championships . The 37-year-old survived a series of twitches close to the winning line before clinching a 10-8 first-round win . ‘If you get qualifiers that are just happy to be here at the Crucible and get their pictures taken the three matches help,’ Dott said who won the title in 2006. ‘But if you’ve got aspirations to win it’s going to hinder you later on. ‘You can see fatigue kicking in if you got to the semis because of those three extra matches. ‘I’ve been to three finals and know how tiring it is.’ But he added: ‘I wasn’t here last year which was a horrible feeling. It’s nice to know you can still do it at the Crucible.’ Meanwhile, John Higgins impressed with a 10-5 victory over Robert Milkins, and looked to be approaching the form that last saw him take the last of his four world titles in 2011. Milkins said of his conqueror: ‘It’s going to take a good man to beat him on that form. I did well to get five frames.’ John Higgins impressed with a 10-5 victory over Robert Milkins in his first-round clash in Sheffield .
target: Graeme Dott had to play three best-of-19-frame matches to qualify .
  He overcame Ricky Walden 10-8 in first-round Crucible clash .
  But former world champion fears exhaustion will ruin his bid for 2015 title .
  Meanwhile, John Higgins impressed with a 10-5 victory over Robert Milkins .