Anthony McGill facts for kids
McGill at the 2016 Paul Hunter Classic
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| Born | 5 February 1991 Glasgow, Scotland |
|---|---|
| Sport country |  Scotland |
| Nickname | The smiling assassin |
| Professional | 2010–present |
| Highest ranking | 12 (March 2022) |
| Current ranking | 14 (as of 8 May 2018) |
| Tournament wins | |
| Ranking | 2 |
Anthony McGill, born on February 5, 1991, is a professional snooker player from Scotland. He plays snooker for a living. He used to practice with Alan McManus, a snooker player who is now retired. Anthony became a professional player in 2010. Before that, he did very well in the PIOS rankings. In 2016, he won his first big tournament, the 2016 Indian Open. This was a huge step for him, as he had never reached the semi-finals of such a big event before.
Anthony McGill's Snooker Journey
Starting Out: Amateur Years
Anthony McGill started playing snooker when he was young. He was very good even as a junior player. In 2006, he was the runner-up in the Junior Pot Black competition. He also finished second in the European Under-19's Championship in 2008.
In the 2009/2010 season, Anthony won an event in the International Open Series. This helped him get a spot on the professional snooker tour in 2010. His first professional final was in 2011 at the 2011 Scottish Professional Championship. He played against the famous John Higgins but lost the match.
Becoming a Professional Player
When Anthony became a professional, he worked hard to improve his game. In the 2011/2012 season, he reached the semi-finals of a smaller tournament called the Players Tour Championship. He beat some experienced players like Matthew Stevens and Stephen Lee. He finished that season ranked 50th in the world.
The next season, 2012/2013, was even better. Anthony reached his first final in a minor-ranking event, the European Tour Event 5, which was held in Scotland. He had some exciting wins, coming back from behind in several matches. He played against Ding Junhui in the final but lost 2-4. This good performance helped him qualify for the Players Tour Championship Finals. He ended this season ranked 48th, which was his highest ranking at that time.
Big Steps and World Championship Success
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In the 2013/2014 season, Anthony reached the quarter-finals of a major ranking tournament for the first time. This was at the 2013 Indian Open. He continued to show his skills in different events.
The 2014/2015 season was a breakthrough for Anthony. He reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 UK Championship. He even beat the legendary John Higgins in a close match. He then played against Ronnie O'Sullivan, one of the best players ever, but lost. After this, he entered the top 32 players in the world.
A big moment came when he qualified for the 2015 World Snooker Championship for the first time. He won three tough matches to get there. In the first round, he beat his fellow Scottish player Stephen Maguire. Then, in a huge upset, he defeated the defending champion, Mark Selby, by a score of 13-9. Mark Selby even said that Anthony could win the whole tournament! Anthony reached the quarter-finals, where he lost to Shaun Murphy. Fans loved watching Anthony because he often smiled and seemed relaxed during his matches. His ranking jumped to 24th in the world.
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In the 2015/2016 season, Anthony qualified for the 2016 World Snooker Championship again. He faced Shaun Murphy in the second round, just like the year before, and this time Anthony won! However, he lost in the next round to Marco Fu.
Winning Titles: Ranking Event Victories
The 2016/2017 season was very successful for Anthony. He reached the quarter-finals of the 2016 Riga Masters. Then, at the 2016 Indian Open, he played incredibly well. He beat Stephen Maguire and Shaun Murphy to reach the final. In the final, he defeated Kyren Wilson 5-2 to win his first ever ranking event title! This was a huge achievement for him.
Later that season, he won his second ranking event title at the 2017 Snooker Shoot-Out. This tournament is different because matches are played quickly, with a shot clock. Anthony beat Xiao Guodong in the final. Even though he won, Anthony joked that this type of tournament shouldn't be a ranking event because of its unique rules. He was seeded for the 2017 World Snooker Championship for the first time, meaning he was one of the top players. However, he lost in the first round. He just missed out on finishing the season in the top 16, ending at 17th.
Recent Years: Continued Success
In the 2017/2018 season, Anthony reached the final of the Indian Open again, but he couldn't defend his title, losing to John Higgins. He also made his first appearance at The Masters tournament.
His ranking dropped a bit in the 2018/2019 season, but he continued to compete.
In the 2020 World Snooker Championship, Anthony had an amazing run. He won several close matches, including a thrilling 10-9 victory over Jack Lisowski. He reached the semi-finals, where he played Kyren Wilson. It was a very close match, going all the way to the final frame. Anthony lost by a small margin, 16-17, after a tough deciding frame.
He continued his strong performance at the 2021 World Snooker Championship, beating Ronnie O'Sullivan 13-12 in the last 16. He then lost a very close quarter-final match 12-13 to Stuart Bingham.
In the 2022 World Snooker Championship, he reached the last 16, losing to Judd Trump. The following year, at the 2023 World Snooker Championship, he once again beat Judd Trump in the first round. He made it to the quarter-finals, where he lost another incredibly close match, 12-13, to Si Jiahui.
In 2024, Anthony did not qualify for the 2024 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre. This was the first time in ten years he hadn't made it to the main event.
Career Finals: Wins and Losses
Anthony McGill has played in several important finals throughout his career. Here's a look at his biggest achievements:
Ranking Event Finals: 3 (2 Wins)
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1. | 2016 | Indian Open |  Kyren Wilson |
5–2 |
| Winner | 2. | 2017 | Snooker Shoot Out |  Xiao Guodong |
1–0 |
| Runner-up | 1. | 2017 | Indian Open |  John Higgins |
1–5 |
Minor-Ranking Event Finals: 1 (0 Wins)
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1. | 2012 | Scottish Open | Ding Junhui |
2–4 |
Non-Ranking Event Finals: 1 (0 Wins)
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1. | 2011 | Scottish Professional Championship | John Higgins |
1–6 |
Pro-Am Finals: 2 (2 Wins)
These are tournaments where professional and amateur players compete together.
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1. | 2015 | PMK Invitational Pro-Am | Michael Leslie |
4–3 |
| Winner | 2. | 2016 | PMK Invitational Pro-Am (2) | Graeme Dott |
4–2 |
Amateur Finals: 7 (4 Wins)
Before turning professional, Anthony won several amateur titles.
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1. | 2004 | Scottish Under-16 Championship | Anthony Hughes |
5–4 |
| Winner | 2. | 2005 | Scottish Under-16 Championship (2) | Neil Dillon |
5–3 |
| Runner-up | 1 | 2006 | Junior Pot Black | Stuart Carrington |
0–1 |
| Runner-up | 2 | 2008 | European Under-19 Championship | Stephen Craigie |
2–6 |
| Winner | 3. | 2009 | PIOS – Event 5 | Farakh Ajaib |
6–0 |
| Winner | 4. | 2010 | Pontins Star of the Future |  Jamie Clarke |
4–1 |
| Runner-up | 3. | 2010 | European Under-19 Championship | Jak Jones |
4–6 |
See also
In Spanish: Anthony McGill para niños
