Graeme Dott, the former world snooker champion, believes the new format for the williamhill.com UK Championship in York is "rubbish".
For the first time, all 128 players on the professional tour start in the same round. This means an additional 64 players will have the chance to challenge the likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan, Neil Robertson, Judd Trump, John Higgins and Dott before the television cameras have even started rolling on Saturday.
Dott insisted: "I think it's [the new format] rubbish, to be honest. I've never liked it and never will. I don't think it helps the younger players at all with their development. Yes, they get the chance to play someone like Ronnie or Neil in the first round, but a lot of players could get slaughtered.
"I'm sure it's great to play a top player, a great experience, but in the long run that's just not good for their development. You've got to learn your trade. That's what I did coming through ranks, just like John Higgins and Stephen Hendry. I just hope this format doesn't knock players' confidence and put them off the game."
World No.16 Dott kicks off his UK title-challenge against compatriot Fraser Patrick, the world No 118, in his opening best-of-11 frames match tomorrow. The 36-year-old Scot has stressed he won't be taking anything for granted against his fellow Glaswegian as he looks to avoid a first-round exit at snooker's second biggest tournament.
"I've practised with Fraser a few times, he's a good player," said Dott. "He's beaten [world No.24] Martin Gould and he came close to beating [former world championship runner-up] Ali Carter, so I know I've got to play well."
Gary Wilson, meanwhile, hopes his taxi-driving days will soon be at an end after he sealed his place in the second round. The 28-year-old, currently ranked 91st in the world, romped to a 6-0 victory over Jamie Jones, completing victory in scarcely a little over two hours.
Wilson, who is still splitting his time between driving his taxi in Wallsend and potting balls for a living, admits he is already dreaming of making a big impression this week in York.
"That is probably the best match I have played this season," he said. "With it being the second biggest tournament of the year, it's handy that I have played well at the right time.
"This is probably my best season so far. I have had some good results and had some bad ones, but it's great to be back and to have played well. It's great to be here, to be honest, I really enjoyed it.
"The plan is to go full-time in January; it will depend on a few results in qualifiers between now and then.
"People always ask me what I do and I have certainly got some funny stories. But I'm feeling good and having played pretty well in the first round I would like to get a few more wins this week."
Elsewhere, Australian Vinnie Calabrese was another outsider to claim victory yesterday, like Wilson, at his maiden UK Championship. The world No.111 held his nerve to defeat Dominic Dale in a dramatic final-frame decider to seal a 6-5 victory.
"I had a couple of really good chances to win it at 5-3, but I couldn't hold myself together," he said.
"Dominic snuck that frame, had a century in the next, but luckily I got a chance in the decider and I did just enough to win.
"When I had my first chance and it went past I was really on edge, but I said to myself, 'it's no use being like that' and I relaxed.
"In the beginning I had a couple of nice breaks, it was good stuff and in the last [frame] I did enough to get the win, luckily."
Noppon Saengkham was another surprise winner, the Thailand potter taking down Tom Ford 6-2, while 19-year-old Sean O'Sullivan overcame a four-frame deficit to notch a 6-4 win over Anthony Hamilton.
British Eurosport is the Home of Snooker, showing 19 tournaments this season including the World Championship, UK Championship, the Masters and all ranking events.
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