Anthony McGill of Scotland came up with his best ever performance to pick his first major title in the circuit when he outplayed England’s Kyren Wilson 5-2 in the final of the third Indian Open world ranking snooker tournament at HICC-Novotel here on Saturday.
The 25-year-old McGill opened the first frame with a measured display, blending attack and safety play to precision.
But Wilson, the Shanghai Masters champion, wrapped up the second frame once he was presented with a huge opportunity by way of a foul from his opponent.The seventh frame lasted close to 40 minutes with both struggling. Wilson missed the red at 39-16, and McGill never looked back. Potting a difficult red (the only red on the table) and then cleaning up the table, McGill emerged a clear winner.
“It is a fantastic feeling to win the title. There was pressure, certainly, being the final and seeing the trophy there on the table,” McGill said later.
For his part, Wilson confessed that he struggled a lot, felt the pressure too. “I think the difference this evening was McGill made up the mind much quicker,” he added.
Earlier in the semifinals, Anthony McGill knocked out 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy of England 4-2 after losing the first two frames while, Kyren Wilson got the better of 50-year-old veteran Nigel Bond of England 4-1.
The results: Final: Anthony McGill (Scot) bt Kyren Wilson (Eng) 86-28, 16-88 (65), 83-27, 49-61(50), 97(96)-25,60-12, 50-39.
Semifinals: Kyren Wilson (Scot) bt Nigel Bond (Eng) 72-8, 44-87(79), 74(70)-38, 121(72, 49)-0, 60-19; Anthony McGill (Scot) bt Shaun Murphy (Eng) 11-75, 0-87 (86), 62-50, 79 (65)-1, 77(53)-0, 64-61.
