O'Sullivan's seventh world snooker title bid shattered by McGill
Anthony McGill beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 13-12 in the second round of World Snooker Championship.
LONDON (AFP) - Defending champion Ronnie O Sullivan had his hopes of a record-equalling seventh world title shattered in the second round by Anthony McGill on Friday.
McGill triumphed 13-12 in the final frame at the Crucible in Sheffield after O Sullivan had fought back from 10-5 down to lead 11-10 and then 12-11.
The Scottish player, ranked 16 and who was a semi-finalist in the last world championship, held his nerve with an 85-point clearance in the decider.
"He was unlucky to lose in the semi-finals last year and if I had lost to anybody else I would be a bit sore but the snooker gods did the right thing today," O Sullivan told the BBC.
"I have to lick my wounds and come back again. I just want to enjoy my snooker because I haven t really been playing well and I find it hard to enjoy it if I m not playing well and cueing well.
"I am pleased I was able to focus and compete. But you can t pot anything and it wasn t meant to be."
McGill, who lost a heartbreaking semi-final in 2020 s delayed world championship when he was just one frame from winning, said: "I played so well this morning and Ronnie just played like Ronnie tonight and I didn t step up.
"But I managed to stop the rot at 11 each."
