Standing ovations all the way as elder statesman Davis becomes interesting again

The 52-year-old was comprehensively beaten 13-5 at the quarter-final stage yesterday by Australian Neil Robertson, but went out smiling and revelling in his restored hero status.

Up against fans' favourites Jimmy White and Alex Higgins in his glory days, Davis used to get a few boos in the snooker arena before graduating to the status of elder statesman which this year saw him grace the Crucible for the 30th year.

But after battling through the qualifiers just to reach the televised finals, Davis – who was given the nickname 'Interesting' by the satirical TV show Spitting Image during his heyday – shocked the sporting world by beating current world champion John Higgins on his way to the last eight.

Standing ovations have greeted Davis at every match, and the Sheffield fans even cheered him across Tudor Square to the BBC studios in the nearby Winter Gardens after he shocked Higgins.

He said: "It was like walking up the 18th (fairway at a major golf event) and it was something I won't ever forget."

Davis had trailed 12-4 overnight, meaning Robertson needed just one more frame to set-up a semi-final berth.

The Australian, who lives in Cambridge, was not even born the first time Davis was crowned world champion.

But while Davis's amazing performance to dethrone Higgins in the previous round had been the stuff of dreams, this scoreline was the harsh reality.

Facing such an overnight deficit, yesterday was like a final lap of honour for the Crucible legend, greeted by a standing ovation and an amusing slip from MC Rob Walker who got his names mixed up and introduced him as Dennis Taylor.

Davis saw the funny side as the pair hugged, but Walker said: "Words cannot describe the embarrassment I feel."

Walker was building up to pointing out that the Davis v Taylor final of 1985 will celebrate its 25th anniversary today.

The former Crucible champions will play a one-off frame this lunchtime to celebrate one of sport's greatest moments.

The gaffe did not seem to affect Davis who opened with a 59 break to take the first frame of the day. "It was a fun moment in what was a situation where I could stand a bit of fun," Davis said. "Rob put 10 years on me (Taylor is 61) but I think I feel 10 years younger (now), to be quite honest. I've thoroughly enjoyed the tournament and I didn't want it to stop.

"I'd like more excitement from the game, and while it's easy to say you could retire, on the odd occasion that it goes right it's so exciting."

There was never any hint that Davis – 33-1 with the bookies to be knighted for his sporting feats – would mount a fightback yesterday, Robertson coasting home in the 18th frame with a break of 107.

Graeme Dott battled back from 12-10 down to beat Mark Allen 13-12, ensuring the former world champion regains his place in snooker's top 16 elite for next season.

Mark Selby sent favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan crashing out.

The Leicester player won 9-8 from 8-5 down against O'Sullivan in the 2008 Welsh Open and then 10-9 from 9-6 behind at January's Wembley Masters.

This was another example of his refusal to accept looming defeat as Selby won the final four frames to earn an 13-11

victory.

Shaun Murphy and Ali Carter headed into their final session yesterday evening tied at 8-8, and they slogged it out, frame by frame, and went into a decider at 12-12.