DOMINIC DALE'S interest in the Regal Welsh this year will be confined to the commentary box after he exited the tournament on the first morning.

The Penarth-based former Grand Prix champion was never at the races against seven-times Crucible winner Stephen Hendry, who has won the Welsh tournament twice. Dale went behind right from the start as Hendry turned on the power.

And, before the Cardiff International Arena's restaurant had opened for lunch, Dale was packing his cue away and getting ready to hold the microphone this afternoon having succumbed to a 5-2 defeat.

But there was a big shock brewing on one of the outside tables as former world champion and world number one John Higgins, from Scotland, was fighting a titanic salvage battle against ngland's Alistair Carter.

Higgins, winner of the Regal Welsh bowl in 2000, was 4-3 down at lunchtime in the best-of-nine frame match.

But reigning champion Paul Hunter was heading towards the next round on the main show table as he reached the mid-session interval at lunchtime against fellow Englishman Mark Selby, leading 3-1.