TAMWORTH'S Dave Gilbert admits he was left heartbroken by his exit from the World Snooker Championship qualifiers.

Gilbert, pictured, was beaten 10-6 by Belgian Bjorn Haneveer in a match full of high breaks.

But the Tamworth Sportsbar ace says the high standard was little consolation for missing out on the final tournament at the Crucible and crucial ranking points.

Gilbert led 4-0 at Sheffield's English Institute of Sports after storming out of the blocks, a 90 break his highest, but 33-year-old Haneever replied in kind, efforts of 121, 98, 84 and 81 helping him through.

The world number 51 told Herald Sport: "I was 4-1 up, playing well, on a 56 break and missed an easy red – he cleared up from there, it was a massive moment.

"After that, he just turned into Ronnie O'Sullivan, it was ridiculous.

"He hasn't won many matches on the tour, but that one shot just changed everything big time – he just rattled off five frames in about half an hour with me just sat there.

"It was the same last year and the year before – everyone on the other tables is making 13 breaks and playing terrible, getting 10 chances a frame and it just so happens I get a guy playing well.

"I was 4-0 up in about 50 minutes and can't remember missing a ball, but then he didn't miss anything the next five frames – it must have been good to watch.

"Every year since I made the Crucible (2007, when he lost to second-seed Stephen Hendry 10-7 in round one) I've come up against someone on form.

"Liang Wenbo played awesome and went on to reach the quarter-finals, then last year Martin Gould played well and our match came down to a couple shots."

Ironically, Haneveer lost to Gould in the next round of qualifiers, with Gould going on to qualify for Sheffield's Crucible.

With the snooker calendar down to six tournaments and the World Championship carrying double ranking points, losing in the second stage of qualifiers cost Gilbert any chance of getting back into the world's top 48.

Instead he could be sweating on his place in the top 64, although it would take an unlikely combination of results from players below him for 28-year-old Gilbert to fall out of that bracket.

He said: "I can't face picking up my cue at the minute, I'm pretty downhearted.

"Having just six tournaments is pathetic really, you get six chances a year so there's not much hope.

"People can win two or three matches all year – then win two or three at the Worlds and fly up the rankings because of it.

"From the top 32 down, the first world qualifier is a big match, it's massive and the pressure on every frame means you can't chill out."

"I imagine my top 64 spot should be safe but if I'm not in the 64 I can't see me picking up the cue again. I don't want to be playing on the qualifying tour.

"I never watch snooker but I went up there to watch a few matches before I played and the standard was very poor.

"It's horrendous knowing I'm better than that but then not showing it, not proving it."