Snooker: Higgins hails victor McGill

Published on Saturday 30 May 2009 11:18

WORLD champion John Higgins helped bring down the curtain on the East of Scotland Snooker Association season by presenting the trophy at the end of the M-pact Building Services Ltd Under-21 Invitation Tournament at World of Snooker in Chesser.

In the end, No.1 seed Anthony McGill, 18, from Glasgow, beat Bonnyrigg's 16-year-old prodigy Michael Leslie 5-3 in a gripping final.

McGill was marginally the better player against Leslie, the current holder of both the Scottish under-19 and under-21 titles, and the Bonnyrigg youngster was never in front in a final that lasted almost four hours in the packed Matchroom.

McGill won the first two frames then Leslie fought back to take the third before McGill extended his lead to 3-1 in a very tight frame thanks to a clearance on the colours.

Leslie pulled the score back to 3-2 but McGill restored his two-frame cushion before again being pegged back to 4-3.

Just as Leslie looked to have a chance of levelling the match, however, an unlucky kick let McGill back in and he was able to hold his game together to take the eighth frame and the silverware.

Frame scores (McGill first): 65-31; 46-30; 5-99; 57-48; 11-59; 71-4; 37-73; 62-16.