Snooker: McGill eliminates title holder and six-time champion O'Sullivan at World Championship

Anthony McGill won six of the eight frames in the morning session. PHOTO: TEAM ANTHONY MCGILL/TWITTER

(REUTERS) - Anthony McGill upset reigning champion Ronnie O'Sullivan 13-12 in the World Championship second round on Friday (April 23), denying him a shot at a record-equalling seventh Crucible title.

World No. 16 McGill, a losing semi-finalist at the venue in Sheffield, England in 2020, got off to a strong start and won six of the eight frames in the morning session.

He led 10-6 before 45-year-old O'Sullivan, who won his sixth world title last year, roared back to win five frames in a row and go 11-10 up and then 12-11.

But McGill's superb break of 136 after he got a safety error from the world No. 2, forced a decider and the Scot kept his cool to beat his English opponent for the first time.

"I played so well this morning and Ronnie just played like Ronnie tonight and I didn't step up, but I managed to stop the rot at 11 each," McGill told the BBC.

The 30-year-old will now play the winner of the match between England's Stuart Bingham and Wales' Jamie Jones in the quarter-finals.

O'Sullivan said McGill deserved to win.

"He was unlucky to lose in the semi-finals last year and if I had lost to anybody else I would be a bit sore but the snooker gods did the right thing today. I have to lick my wounds and come back again."

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.