World No. 57 Shifts Focus from Lorry Driving Dreams After Surprising Win Over Snooker Legend John Higgins to Reach British Open Final
John Higgins, a four-time world snooker champion, faced an unexpected exit from the semi-finals of the British Open in a surprising twist.
Anthony McGill, ranked No. 57 in the world, astonished his fellow Scot by clinching his first final in eight years, allowing him to put aside thoughts of switching careers.
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On Saturday night, McGill overcame Higgins with a score of 6-3, effectively ensuring his place in the final and alleviating any worries about potential relegation from the World Snooker Tour.
Before his notable win, McGill had been voicing worries about having to consider driving trucks.
He noted: “My ranking had been slipping badly, and I was starting to think I might be driving a lorry next year.”
“This result is a significant boost for my professional snooker career.”
This win guarantees his return to the top 50 after falling to 57th, having previously achieved a career-high ranking of 12 three years ago.
Before this weekend, he hadn’t reached a semi-final in three years, let alone a final.
His previous titles include the Indian Open in 2016 and the Snooker Shoot Out in 2017, with the last ranking final being the Indian Open in that same year.
McGill is set to compete against Shaun Murphy in the final on Sunday, with a prize of £100,000 up for grabs.
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Murphy triumphed over reigning champion Mark Selby in the other semi-final on Saturday.
McGill attributes his recent success to weight loss since the World Championships and stated, “Tomorrow is a free shot.”
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“This marks my greatest achievement to date. I don’t consider the Shoot Out or Indian Open final to be ranking events, so this is essentially my first.”
At 50, Higgins aimed to become the oldest winner of a ranking title but reflected on missed chances, including a missed opportunity he deemed ‘unforgivable.’
He acknowledged, “Anthony played superbly, just as everyone knows he can.”
“A crucial moment was the fourth frame when I missed an unforgivable red with the rest while in a favorable position.”
“Then, in the final frame, I missed another red into the middle. But all credit goes to Anthony; he closed out the match brilliantly.”