Anthony McGill held off a fightback from four-time World Champion Mark Selby to win 4-3 and clinch a place in the last eight of the BetVictor Scottish Open.
It’s the first time McGill has beaten Selby since inflicting the Crucible curse at the 2015 World Championship and ending the Leicester cueman’s first reign as World Champion.
This evening’s win has a similar significance in that it ends defending champion Selby’s winning streak at the Scottish Open. It is the first time he has lost in the event, having lifted the Stephen Hendry Trophy for the previous two years. His run of match wins ends at 17.
McGill will now face an intriguing all-Scottish tie with practice partner Stephen Maguire, who defeated Ben Woollaston 4-1. McGill is chasing a third ranking title and a first since winning the Shoot Out in 2017.
After taking the opening frame, McGill then stole the second on the black to give himself an early cushion. He then composed a clearance of 75 to also take the third on the black and establish a 3-0 lead.
However, Selby refused to relinquish his crown without a fight. He fired in breaks of 105, 116 and 79 to take three on the bounce and set up a decider at 3-3.
It was a truncated final frame, which lasted 38 minutes. However, McGill eventually came out on top and sealed his progression to the quarter-finals.
“I played alright, but I think I picked off a couple of his errors to go 3-0 up. All of a sudden, in the blink of an eye, it was 3-3. He played really well. If he’d have come back and beat me I’d have had no complaints,” said 30-year-old McGill.
“I am in a decent place right now mentally, where I don’t really care what is happening. I am just trying my best every shot, regardless of what is going on. I can even take the defeats a bit better now.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan edged an enthralling clash with Jamie Jones 4-3 to book his quarter-final place.
The Rocket made breaks of 96, 73, 85 and 66 on his way to this evening’s win. He now faces Li Hang in the quarters. Li beat Martin O’Donnell 4-2 in the last 16.
BetVictor Championship League winner David Gilbert survived a nervy final frame decider to edge out world number two Judd Trump 4-3. His reward is a quarter-final encounter with four-time Crucible king John Higgins, who beat Martin Gould 4-2.
Last week’s UK Championship runner-up Luca Brecel beat Fergal O’Brien 4-1 and will now play Matthew Selt after the Essex cueman defeated Scott Donaldson 4-2.
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