Snooker: MacGillivray in with ‘good chance’ of Sofia success

The 40-year-old lines up in a five-man group alongside Baek Minu (South Africa), Vinnie Calibrese (Australia), Alexander Ursenbacker (Switzerland) and Brijesh Damini (India). A top-three place will be enough for him to reach the knockout stages.

MacGillivray said: “I expect to make it through my group, but I am looking to play well and finish as high up as possible and give myself a chance of being one of the top seeds in the knockout stages.”

After a perfect start to the Scottish snooker season where he has won the opening two Masters Series events and the opening Main Tour event, MacGillivray admitted: “The quality of competition will be high. There will be a good few top young players, like the Chinese, looking to win the Pro Ticket on offer to the winner.

“However, whilst turning  professional again doesn’t interest me, I want to win it like everyone else. I am playing well, have a strong tactical game and if I can keep my concentration then I will be in with a good chance.”

MacGillivray believes this might be his last chance at winning the World Amateur. He added “Having turned 40 now, I will probably be looking to enter the Masters events from next season as long as I can finish high enough in the Scottish Masters rankings.”