Judd Trump suffers shock defeat to Anthony McGill at World Snooker Championship, Mark Selby leads Matt Selt
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 19/04/2023 at 20:32 GMT
Judd Trump's hopes of winning a second World Snooker Championship title are over after going down 10-6 to Anthony McGill. Trump had looked on for a memorable comeback, but the nuggety McGill showed nerve and quality to get himself over the line after Trump had pulled the score back to 7-6. McGill will face Jack Lisowski next. Meanwhile, Mark Selby is 6-3 up against Matt Selt.
Watch Wilson clinch stunning 147 at Crucible as fans celebrate
Judd Trump suffered a shock first-round defeat to Anthony McGill at the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible, while Mark Selby established a 6-3 lead over Matt Selt.
Trump, the 2019 champion, looked like mounting a comeback having hauled himself back to within one frame of McGill, but the Scot surged ahead again to secure his victory.
The afternoon session had resumed with McGill holding a 6-3 lead and there was plenty of work for Trump to do, but he quickly made headway into the deficit.
Trump won the 10th frame 110-0 with a break of 68 and he continued that momentum into the next frame, taking it thanks to a break of 58.
Arguably the stand-out shot came when world No. 5 Trump took on a diagonal which went across the full length of the table, and it looked like he was in the mood to wrestle back the match.
But McGill motored back to re-establish his lead at 7-5 with a break of 94 as the Scot took advantage after Trump cannoned the brown.
Momentum swung back in Trump’s favour with a break of 63 to wrap up the 13th frame 79-0 as he closed to just one behind.
Trump would've certainly hoped to level things up having got back in touch at 7-6, but the next frame went McGill's way as Trump tried to force a red and missed.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2023/04/19/3687366-75037248-2560-1440.jpg)
Judd Trump of England reacts during their round one match against Anthony McGill of Scotland on Day Four of the Cazoo World Snooker Championship 2023 at Crucible Theatre on April 18, 2023 in Sheffield, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
That left McGill well in the balls, and he duly cashed in with a 69 to go two frames from victory.
If that frame would've stung Trump, then the next was equally as painful, with more uncharacteristic misses marring his play, and giving McGill more chances.
And the Scot kept his foot on the accelerator, moving to 9-6 and with one foot in the second round.
As the players began the ensuing, potentially decisive frame, it was McGill who made the running once again and he looked set to cruise into the next round.
A missed red stalled his progress, but Trump jawed the black when coming back to the table, and he looked like a man who knew his fate was sealed.
McGill put the finishing touches thereafter to send Trump home, and move onto a tie with Jack Lisowski, who beat Noppon Saengkham.
Over on table two during the afternoon was Selby against Selt.
Selby, a four-time winner of the World Championship, has not always had the best of things this season, but appeared in positive mood on the eve of the tournament, hailing his improved mental health.
And he started as he meant to go on against Selt, seizing on a poor safety from his opponent to clear up with an impressive 94.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2023/04/19/3687454-75039008-2560-1440.jpg)
Mark Selby of England looks on during their round one match against Matthew Selt of England on Day Five of the Cazoo World Snooker Championship 2023 at Crucible Theatre on April 19, 2023 in Sheffield, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Selby doubled his lead as he got in early among the balls and was clinical enough to take the frame with one visit.
His red-hot form was clear for all to see as he moved 3-0 ahead thereafter, knocking in a wonderful 110 as Selt looked shell-shocked.
However, Selt rebounded expertly to get on the board for 3-1 ahead of the mid-session interval, making a 123 to give himself some much-needed confidence.
Suddenly the match was tighter than it had been as Selt got in again and reduced the arrears to one frame.
That seemed to spark Selby into life, however, and he took the next three frames to make it 6-2, the last of those courtesy of his second century of the afternoon, a glittering 131.
The final frame of the session was going to be crucial, and Selt - after Selby had spurned chances - managed to make it his, leaving the scoreline poised at 6-3.
The pair resume on Thursday afternoon.
- - -
Stream top snooker action, including the 2023 World Championship, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement