■ Neil Goulding MESSAGE IN ANT’S BOTTLE
Pressure suits McGill as Higgins KO’d
Anthony McGill declared he’s got the bottle to bank the Crucible jackpot – as John Higgins admitted he’d been floored by snooker’s very own Floyd Mayweather.
Glaswegian McGill missed out on last year’s World Championship Final after a fluked green in a 17-16 semi-final loss to eventual runner-up Kyren Wilson.
But the 30-year-old sent defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan packing 13-12 in a Crucible cracker on Friday, roaring as the brown that clinched his pathway disappeared.
Four- t ime champion Higgins wi l l not be joining him in the quarter- finals after Wel shman Mark Williams eased to a 13-7 win in last night’s battle of green baize heavyweights. The Sheffield showdown was effectively lost as the Wizard of Wishaw conjured up a disappearing act from 3-1 up to trail 10-3.
Higgins, who missed the 15th black for a maximum 147 break and a £55,000 bonus, said: “That must be what it’s like being in the ring with Floyd Mayweather.
“He’s just so clever, you can’t really open the balls out because he can pot everything.
“I just got my head jabbed clean off really. I was a bit confused most of the game. The game got away from me. It was a pretty bad tournament for me.
“I never played well enough. I’m really disappointed not to make the 147.”
McGill will face either Jamie Jones or 2015 champion Stuart Bingham, both of whom are qualifiers, for a spot in a second successive Sheffield semi.
The world No.16 said: “I can handle pressure, definitely. You’ve got to get to the winning point to show that – it’s hard to get to that winning point. That’s tough enough. Moments like beating Ronnie at the Crucible just add to the self-belief bank.
“If I’m ever in a tough spot, or a decider, I can always look back to that match and there aren’t going to be many bigger moments than that.
“I held it together and it definitely gives you a lot of confidence.
“It’s a massive result. There’s no doubt in my mind Ronnie really wanted this tournament. He’s got [sports psychiatrist] Steve Peters with him. He’s got every record in the book bar one and he’s going to get it – he’s too good. To win that match is such a feather in my cap and a big step forward.” An upbeat Rocket believes he has f ive years to chase down Stephen Hendry’s record haul of seven Crucible crowns.
The six- time winner said: “I suppose I could get it right maybe one more time. It’s probably the only record I haven’t got, so I won’t be too hard on myself.”
Aussie Neil Robertson kept up his quest to copy his 2010 success with a 13- 9 secondround win over Jack Lisowski.
Last year’s runner- up
Kyren Wi lson saw off a
Barry Hawkins fightback to win 13-10.
Three-time Crucible king
Mark Selby resumes his second-round clash this afternoon with Mark
Allen with a 6-2 lead.
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