EmDee wrote:
Well I suppose I'm gonna let myself get drawn into this debate in order to defend myself.

First of all, it's not actually got anything to do with you at all Danny, but if you are going to post a bunch of gossip and crap about my match, let's make sure you at least get the facts straight.

This was not a decision I took lightly. It was very difficult and put me under a lot of pressure. This is not a situation i should have been put in.



^ This is not even true. Don't tell me what I said. My exact words were "Let me see if I can find a venue I'm happy with."

Secondly, I get a voicemail from Mark Halsey saying that I had postponed the game because I couldn't make it!!! Apparently I was on holiday? Well I wish I was, but no I was in Croydon waiting to play my singles. I got back from my holiday on Saturday night. Where has this come from?

I postponed the game on Monday simply because I was looking for a neutral venue that has a flat table with bouncy cushions.

I know my home table intimately - that's my home advantage. Why should I have to sacrifice that just because someone else has got themselves barred from the main venue in the league?

So during my week of deliberating, I went to Frames because it was the only place I could think of - and the table I played on might as well have had a big clown's face and a windmill on it. If I played him there I would have needed to bring a caddy. Quite frankly it's a joke that there is no venue out there that has decent tables. I used to play out of all sorts of little pubs with nice tables and now they're all gone.

Anyway, I wanted to speak to Rod about it man to man because I just wanted to let him know my point of view and have a chat. So I got his number from my secretary and called him up. I called him Thursday morning, Friday evening and again this last Tuesday and he didn't answer.

All week I've had people with absolutely nothing to do with the game coming up to me and chatting to me about it, telling me their opinions. For the record, more people said I should claim it than play it, which is interesting considering how many have said that on here.

I was going to play it. I had every intention of doing so, but after a week of drama and still no venue I felt comfortable in, I decided that it was my right to claim it. Many other players would have.

Imagine playing somewhere awful, losing because of the table and then the guy in the next round claims it over him!

I don't care whether you think I was right or wrong in all honesty. The fact of the matter is that the mind games and venue selection all put pressure on me that should not be there. I want to play Rod on my table, that's what was on the draw and that's all I'm asking for. If the Gun was round the corner and Steve Smith had a nice flat table in there then I'd be all over it. Same goes for the Eagle and numerous other places, but they're all gone.

Anyway, sorry for the long post, but that's my point of view. Take it or leave it.

Gentlemen, start your keyboards.