RUB OF THE GREEN FOR HAPPY KYREN

Bizarre final frame decided by a fluke

KYREN WILSON was left in tears after coming through the ‘greatest frame’ to reach a first Crucible final.

The 28-year-old from Kettering could thank an outrageous fluke on the final green for sealing a nerve-shredding 17-16 win over Anthony McGill in their World Championship semi-final.

One of the most astonishing contests in Crucible history got a finale to match.

The aggregate number of points of 186 between the pair in the final frame – 103-83 as a result of 47 points conceded on fouls by McGill and eight from Wilson – is a Crucible record.

Wilson, a three-time ranking event winner who knocked out Judd Trump, said: “This isn’t the way I wanted it to happen with the green. I didn’t keep myself together in that final frame and that annoyed me. It’s mad what can happen on a snooker table.

“I put him under great pressure to go three ahead at 14-11 and he just stuck it to me from then. It’s a cruel game, he had some bad rubs. Anthony played phenomenally well today.

“Playing in a Crucible final is something I’ve dreamed about and to have a crowd will be the icing on the cake.”

Stephen Hendry said: “It has been the most incredible frame ever seen at the Crucible.” McGill hit top form, reeling off breaks of 84, 87 and 122 to level at 14-14.

He even went one up with two to play only for Wilson to level to force the decider. McGill conceded those 47 points in nine attempts trying to get out of snookers. Wilson twice pocketed the white. It was bizarre. It lasted an hour.

In the end the outrageous fluke on the green – a safety shot which came off three cushions – finally left brave McGill beaten.

He said: “I felt like it was stolen from me – not by Kyren but by the snooker gods.All credit to him.”