Blackpool snooker star James Cahill ready for a rest after latest Open setback

Having lost to Andrew Higginson at the first hurdle in the UK Championship at the same venue a fortnight earlier, Cahill said of his latest setback: "He played well, his safety was good and I lost. He played well and it was as simple as that."

Asked what was going wrong, the 24-year-old said: "Obviously too many things by the looks of my results. I’m just not winning matches, it’s as simple as that."

Propelled back into the pro ranks on the back of last year's stunning World Championship victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan, Cahill has endured a difficult season.

The world number 83 has also contested the English and Northern Irish Opens at Milton Keynes in the past two months, winning just one match, and is now taking a break.

“The cue’s going down for a long time – I’ve got absolutely nothing (planned),” he said.

Against Clarke, Cahill bounced back after losing the opening frame, winning the second with a break of 60 and then taking a 2-1 lead after frame three.

But it was downhill from there as 90th-ranked Clarke took the next three frames, including a break of 76 in the fifth, to seal the match.

Matches over the first two days of the Scottish Open have started hours late as competitors had to wait for the results of coronavirus tests.

Players cannot take part in these behind-closed-doors events until they have tested negative and Cahill's match was among those delayed.

“I really don’t know if it made any difference," he said. "It’s the same for both players. It didn’t go well."

Cahill said that in practice his form has been "awesome", adding: "I don’t think I’ve ever played so well.”

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