SCOTTISH potter Anthony McGill suffered heartache in his first ranking final for eight years at the British Open last night.
The Glaswegian, 34, started the week ranked a lowly 57th in the world with genuine concerns of dropping out of the 64 at the end of the season and losing his professional status.
But in the end there were mixed emotions leaving Cheltenham for the valiant Scot having allayed those fears but missing out on the biggest title of his career after a 10-7 defeat to Shaun Murphy in a gripping showpiece.
Masters champion Murphy banked the £100,000 top prize as he ended a 26-month wait for a 13th ranking crown, which places him 10th on the all-time list.
Crestfallen McGill, who pocketed £45,000 as the worthy runner-up, rises to 45th in the world and said: “If someone offered me the final at the start of the week I would have snapped their hand off, but I’m disappointed.
“Shaun deserved it. He played the better snooker so I’ve got no complaints.
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“I’m sure I’ll take some positives but I felt like the match was there to be won so I’m really disappointed.
“I felt like I was the stronger player the whole day. I don’t know what happened. I wasn’t nervous or anything like that.
“I’ve secured my ranking for a year or two so that’s a positive.”
Two-time ranking champion McGill, formerly inside the elite top 16, was back in the big time after a few years in the doldrums.
The former World Championship semi-finalist, who was one ball away from a Crucible final with Ronnie O’Sullivan in 2020, was not overawed despite his long wait to reach a final as he more than played his part in a quality contest.
The pair traded blows in the afternoon as the first session ended all square at 4-4 after McGill made breaks of 68, 78 and 109 whilst Murphy hit runs of 101, 132, 78 and 112.
It was nip-and-tuck all the way to 7-7 with McGill the heavier scorer with 81, 77 and 73 visits.
But former world champion Murphy’s plethora of experience in the big moments told when it mattered most.
After levelling at 7-7 with a break of 76, Murphy made breaks of 72 and 66 as he clinched the Clive Everton trophy.
Murphy, who reached the semi-finals of the event way back in 2004, amazingly dropped out of the top 16 earlier this season.
But he returned to the sport’s highest echelon after ending a long wait for ranking glory.
The new world No.12 beamed: “I’m absolutely delighted. Goodness me he is tough. He’s such a class player.
“No-one in their wildest dreams thought I would be the last man standing this week.
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“It’s wonderful to have a trophy tucked away so early in the season.
“I must pay tribute to two people who are so important to me. It’s not just me out here doing it on my own. Peter Ebdon has been amazing for me and my partner Jo, it’s an incredible partnership that we have. She supports me in everything that I do and she holds it all together.”
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