GARY WILSON says he’s no longer enjoying his snooker and the game has become nothing more than a job after his second round defeat at the 19.com Scottish Open.

The Wallsend potter constructed a majestic century in his opening frame against Chris Wakelin but went down to a crushing 4-1 loss, as the world number 47 made consecutive breaks of 128 and 134 to send Wilson back down to the North-East despondent.

And the world number 18, who lost in the fourth round of the Betway UK Championship in York in the first Triple Crown event of the season, says he’s lost all sense of excitement when picking up a cue.

“It’s soul-destroying - I can’t go anywhere from here and this has been the case for years and years,” the 34-year-old reflected.

“I’m not enjoying my snooker and I’ve not enjoyed it for years because I just don’t play well enough, and I don’t feel like the player I used to feel like as a teenager.

“My ranking’s irrelevant - I want to be a proper player, and I don’t think I’ll ever be one because I just don’t have the right cue action.

“I’ll carry on playing as I’m making a living out of the game, but it’s just about money and it being a job now as I don’t enjoy it anymore and I haven’t enjoyed it for years.”

Gateshead potter John Astley also succumbed to a disappointing second round defeat, losing 4-1 to Chinese player Zhang Jiankang who hit breaks of 80 and 60.

But the world number 77 beat three-time ranking event winner Barry Hawkins in the first round, his second victory over the 2013 World Championship finalist but a result he failed to turn into a run at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena.

“I always seem to play well against Barry, but this is snooker - that was two days ago but for some reason today I just couldn’t get in a rhythm and I found it a bit difficult,” the 30-year-old said.

“I’ve had quite a tough season and lost in quite a few deciding frames, so it’s small margins with snooker and there are some days I don’t want to pick my cue up.

“I’ve realised with snooker it can quickly turn around for you - I know I’m good enough but you’ve just got to be patient.”

And there were two more north-eastern players also in action, as Middlesbrough's evergreen Mike Dunn reached the third round of a ranking event for the first time this season with a narrow 4-3 victory over world number 27 Ryan Day.

Gateshead's precocious Elliot Slessor - who Dunn coaches - also reached the third round under the Emirates lights, beating home favourite Anthony McGill 4-2 in a comfortable six-frame victory.

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