NEWPORT potter Andrew Pagett cursed some bad luck and a hectic schedule after he fell at the first hurdle at the UK Snooker Championship at the Barbican in York.

Pagett arrived at the UK Championship on Wednesday afternoon after two trips to China and one to Germany inside the last two months – each one culminating in a first-round defeat.

And he suffered the same fate back on home soil at the hands of Mike Dunn, clawing back a 2-0 deficit to head into the break level before losing four straight frames for a 6-2 defeat.

And the 32-year-old world No.79 believes his opponent was saved by the interval at the Barbican in York, which could hardly have come at a better time for Dunn.

“It could have gone either way,” said Pagett. “I got in off a couple of safeties but he got the rub of the green every now and again and you have got to accept it – that’s all you can do.

“I think the break came at the perfect time for him. I had just made a 60 and a 70 to come back to two each, he was banging his cue and whatnot, but the break was perfect timing.

“When we came back I got in on the black and had a nasty kick, which swung the momentum his way.

“We have been travelling so much lately. We were in Thailand for a couple of weeks, then Latvia, then China – I don’t think I really got over the China trip.

“The jetlag, you can’t explain it to somebody – it feels like you’re drunk all of the time, you know? But travelling is part and parcel of the game so you just have to get used to it and get on with it.”

Meanwhile, Lee Walker is heading back to work after his 6-2 defeat at the hands of four-time world champion John Higgins on the second day of action in York.

He said: “I knew it would be tough coming back to the tour after so long off it but drawing the likes of John in the first round is really tough.

“It will be a few days off for me now, for sure. I've got a little business with my brother, so it will be back to that.

“That's doing up houses, so it will be back in there for me. It will be all dirty and I don’t enjoy it very much, that’s for sure.

“I’d much rather still be playing in the UK Championship to be honest!”

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