The 2016–17 season proved to be the first since 2002/2003 that Dott failed to reach the quarter-finals of a ranking event. He had to wait until the 2017 Welsh Open in February to play in the third round of an event, after beating Ricky Walden and Adam Stefanów, but he lost 2–4 to Lee Walker. He qualified for the World Championship and beat Ali Carter 10–7 in the first round, before being defeated 6–13 by Barry Hawkins.