Anthony McGill upsets Stephen Maguire in quarter-final of Scottish Professional Snooker Championship
Local pro, Anthony McGill, stunned compatriot, Stephen Maguire, as he grabbed the semi-final spot after beating him 5-3, in their quarter-final clash of the Scottish Professional Snooker Championship, on April 12, 2011. The encounter was held at the Lucky
Break Snooker Club in Clydebank, Glasgow.
The 20-year-old McGill will go head-to-head with the 2010 World Championship finalist, Graeme Dott, in the semi-final match on Wednesday, April 13, at the same venue.
While the previous three quarter-finals ended in expected results, Anthony McGill surprised everybody, especially Stephen Maguire, as he was victorious with a 5-3 frame score after he produced top-quality game-play in the quarter-final. He looked relaxed
during the match because he had the local crowd behind him. McGill played some accurate snooker shots with confidence to ensure his victory over the comparatively experienced, Maguire.
The match had everything including awkward misses, ridiculous mistakes, some perfect shots, scintillating display of snooker skills, a bit of good fortune and some bad luck. McGill, also called the Tartan Nugget after veteran, Steve Davis, started-off strongly
with a one-frame lead after grabbing the first game.
He was close to extend his lead to 2-0, after he fired a decent break of 38, but a miss let Maguire take the frame after he re-spotted the black ball and levelled the score 1-1. The second frame win gave Maguire the confidence he needed. He took advantage
of the momentum and clinched back-to-back frames to take a two-frame lead over McGill at 1-3.
McGill bounced back into the game after the break and produced a marvellous display of potting skills to regain his form. He gave in a couple of decent breaks and notched up an outstanding score of 71 without a reply, to move within a one frame margin at
2-3.
The sixth frame was a tossing-turning affair, as both snooker stars tussled to gain momentum and clinch the victory. McGill played impressively and made the frame score 3-3. The thrill and suspense went high after the game was levelled, as nobody knew who
is going to grab the next frame.
The 30-year-old Maguire had a solid start in the seventh frame, as he led after a 40-point clearance but a long potting mistake cost him and let McGill take control proceedings. As the youngster took control of the table, he sparked his cue sensationally
and piled up a score of 75 with his impressive shooting to take a one-frame lead for the first time in the game at 4-3.
A turning point came in the eighth frame, when Maguire looked to have dragged the match into a decider frame as he shot a fine clearance of 61 and looked confident to snatch the game. The whole scenario changed when he made the same mistake of missing the
long ball again, as he attempted to hit a long red but could not pot it.
The atmosphere in the arena got even tenser after the miss. Young Anthony then took control of his nerves and finished the match after grabbing the frame.
McGill will next meet former world champion, Graeme Dott, in the semi-final that will take place on Wednesday, April 13, 2011.
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