Scott Donaldson pays tribute to late father in UK Championship comeback
Snooker star Scott Donaldson staged a remarkable comeback from 5-0 down against Stuart Bingham to win 6-5 in the UK Snooker Championship qualifying round, dedicating the victory to his late father, who passed away a month ago, reports BritPanorama.
Donaldson’s emotional victory at the Barbican Centre in York came after early domination by 2015 World Champion Bingham, who posted breaks of 71 and 117 in the first five frames. However, Donaldson regrouped and won the last six frames, including breaks of 56, 64, 110, 51, 91, and 64.
In a poignant post-match interview, Donaldson reflected on his father’s passing and the inspiration he drew from him during the match. “It’s my dad. He died last month,” he expressed. “I lost my dad five hours after I qualified for the national championship. There’s just no way I’m winning that match normally.”
He elaborated on his father’s passion for watching him play, indicating that he felt his father’s presence while competing. “In my mind, he’s still there watching me play. I just don’t know where he is right now,” he said. His emotional tribute underscores the personal stakes involved in the sport, especially in the face of such loss.
Donaldson’s unexpected victory marked his qualification for the main event of the UK Snooker Championship, set to commence over the weekend. He described the feelings of luck that seemed to accompany him, stating, “I just got so much good luck at the end, which was very unusual, and I think dad was doing something.”
Reflecting on the match, he noted, “Stuart must be sick, he had chances. At the very end when I potted match ball, I thought ‘what is going on here?’ This game is stupid, you can go from feeling nothing, then at the end felt I could pot anything on the table.”
This comeback not only highlights Donaldson’s skill and determination but also the emotional resilience required in professional sports, illuminating how personal narratives intertwine with competitive spirit in unexpected ways.
