Dave Gilbert ‘nearly didn’t bother’ but now fancies World Championship challenge

Dave Gilbert has been lacking motivation of late, but is delighted to be back at the Crucible and ready to mount another World Championship challenge.

The Angry Farmer had an encouraging start to the season but has been going through a very quiet 2025, failing to qualify for the World Open, Players Championship and Tour Championship.

The 43-year-old has admitted that results have been poor as he has not been putting the hard work in, but fear of missing a trip to the Crucible has kicked him into gear.

A semi-finalist in Sheffield last year, Gilbert is back at the Crucible after winning two games in qualifying and he is delighted, having bounced back from a place where he considered not even playing in the event.

‘I’m really pleased to get to the Crucible,’ he said. ‘I nearly didn’t bother playing but as it comes round and you start seeing it on the tele you think, “Oh bloody hell I actually want to be at the Crucible.” It’s a special place, you know.’

On whether he was genuinely considering not playing, Gilbert said: ‘Yeah, I just haven’t played, but I was guaranteed five figures and even I’ll turn up for that. I haven’t got any dough so I needed to turn up.

‘It was a few things. I’ve always been a bit in and out with the game, there’s no need to lie about it. But I don’t like turning up when I know I can’t play.

‘I can win a match but I know I can’t go deep and it’s boring. I’m old and I can’t be bothered with that. I see some of these people turning up week in week out fudging about, it’s not for me. Unless I put the graft in and feel like I can play proper snooker, I’m not that interested.’

Gilbert offered enormous credit to his friend, coach and – as he puts it – therapist, Andy Lee, who he calls The Caddy, during his excellent Sheffield run last year.

He has got him back on board and despite a quiet time on tour, he knows form and results can change quickly.

‘I was playing alright till Saudi [Arabia Masters] then I lost interest in it,’ he said. ‘I’ve missed four or five comps, other things going on. The Caddy made me start practicing 10 days ago. It’s the Worlds innit, if I’d been sat at home I’d have been fuming with it, so I’m happy to be there.

‘It can click. That’s all it is. I love the Crucible, it’s a special place, it might not be there much longer, I want to play every year while it is, absolutely! When you turn up to them back doors something special happens, it makes you tingle.

‘I want to give it a real crack. I’m excited to walk out.’

Gilbert was speaking after beating Aaron Hill in his last qualifier and before he was drawn to face Si Jiahui in his Crucible opener, starting on Monday night.

He admitted that his form has not been good enough to beat one of the very elite players on the planet, but does fancy his chances against other members of the top 16.

‘I need to avoid the real big hitters, they’ll murder me the way I’m playing at the minute, but there’s a few in there I fancy giving a game,’ he said ahead of the draw.

‘Your Kyrens, your Judds are far too good for me at the minute, my game isn’t there. But you never know, it can click.

‘I do feel like I’m close to playing alright. But I’ve played so little I just get found out. When you go 10-20 minutes without potting a ball and you’re scrapping about, I haven’t got the big shot in me at the minute. But it’s only one good match and you’re back, it’s what happened last year.’