BRONXI BEAT
Scots star Anthony’s heading straight for New York holiday after frustrating loss
ANTHONY McGILL admits he missed the boat at the Betfred World Championship – and now he’ll cross the Atlantic ocean to recover on holiday in New York.
The Crucible has not been a happy hunting ground for the Scot in the last two years as he suffered another frustrating loss with his 10-7 first-round defeat to Ding Junhui yesterday.
McGill knows he’s had a poor season but is hoping to come back from his break in America refreshed for the new campaign.
He said: “I didn’t make a fool of myself this time and that’s pleasing. I’m going to take a break and go on holiday.
“My results have been so bad this season but I’m excited about next season. I should have won a couple of frames in the first session.
“I made a couple of bad decisions. They were two frames I should have won so it ended up close and I could have won.
“I’ve had a couple of doings here. Stephen Maguire beat me 10-2 and Ding 13-4 as well. It’s weird because it’s the most comfortable I’ve felt in five years.”
World No.24 McGill resumed 6-3 down overnight and came back from 8-4 and 9-5 down with 57, 69, and 58 breaks but Ding was too strong with match runs of 64, 70, 64, 52, 129, 99, 134, 91 and 106.
McGill said: “I was only a couple of shots away from beating Ding – and not an out-of-form Ding. He’s a class act and better than I am. That’s the way it is.”
Graeme Dott starts his 20th Crucible campaign against Stuart Bingham in a clash of former world champions tomorrow and could set up an all-tartan tussle with John Higgins in the second round.
Scott Donaldson makes his dream debut on Wednesday against Kyren Wilson with their best-of-19frames battle finishing on Thursday.
Ding’s a class act and he’s better than I am. That’s the way it is ANTHONY McGILL