Red faced
John Higgins feels it would be him in this afternoon’s final if he had missed a simple red while 2-1 up yesterday.
He said: “Anthony hit the ball superbly well, like the way we all know he can.
“A big turning point was the fourth frame when I missed an unforgiveable red with the rest with the balls at my mercy.
“If I had gone 3-1 up I would have been in control.
“Then in the last frame I butchered a red to the middle, it was a horrible shot and I’ll leave the tournament with that in my mind.
“But every credit to Anthony, he finished the match off very well.”
Huge day for McGill
Today is the biggest day in Anthony McGill’s career for some time.
He said after beating John Higgins yesterday: “It’s fantastic win for me because John is a legend.
“This will be the biggest final of my career. I have had a lot of good wins at the Crucible but this would definitely top all of them.
“I wasn’t nervous today, I was really enjoying the occasion.
“I made a few mistakes, but tried to put them to the back of my mind and I felt good all the way through.
“I really want to compete in the final. Then if it doesn’t go my way, I’ll look back and it will be fine.
“But right now, I really want to end the week with the trophy in my hands.
“In the last couple of years I have won hardly any matches so this is a huge week for me.”
Back to winning ways
Anthony McGill is looking for his first ranking title in EIGHT years.
His last came at the 2017 Shoot Out and his only other came a year earlier at the Indian Open.
As for Shaun Murphy, he is looking to add to his Masters crown, which he won at Ally Pally in January.
Resurgent McGill
Anthony McGill has had a tough few years at the baize, having not made a ranking event semi-final since the Northern Ireland Open in 2022.
The Scot has slipped to No57 in the world rankings from his career-high of No12.
There has even been the threat of relegation from the tour if results did not improve.
But brilliance yesterday to beat John Higgins has banked him at least £45,000 and a return to the top 50.
Dream a reality?
Shaun Murphy is desperate to have his name etched onto the Clive Everton Trophy.
He said: “I’ve had a very tough draw to get to the final but hopefully that hasn’t taken too much out of me.
“It has been a while since I won a ranking event so it would be nice to pick up another one.
“This event has a huge history going way back to when I was young, I came to watch it as a kid.
“It holds special memories for me and it would be lovely to take the trophy home.”
A look at the Unibet British Open finalists
“Anthony has got every shot in the book, a class act and a class player, take nothing for granted.” said Murphy on his last hurdle.
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“Tomorrow is a shot to nothing, this is my biggest ever achievement,” says McGill who reaches his fourth ranking final, his first in eight years.
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