Scottish Open 2021 - ‘A comedy of errors!’ – Anthony McGill and Stephen Maguire both laugh after odd finish to frame

ByEurosport

Published 10/12/2021 at 14:49 GMT

Anthony McGill and Stephen Maguire managed to see the funny side after they both potted the white in frame-deciding moments at the Scottish Open on Friday. “You couldn’t make it up, could you?” said Joe Johnson on commentary: Stream the Scottish Open and much more top snooker action live and on demand on discovery+

'You couldn’t make it up' - McGill and Maguire in stitches after double error

Both Anthony McGill and Stephen Maguire found the time to laugh at themselves and one another in their Scottish Open quarter-final after potting the white ball consecutively.

First it was McGill who saw luck desert him, dropping the white in the green pocket after playing a shot-to-nothing. It was – to quote 1986 world champion Joe Johnson – a “very unfortunate” in-off.

“For a moment,” said Phil Studd, “he thought he had won the frame. And so did Maguire, he was getting ready for the next one.”

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The run of the ball allowed Maguire – now trailing 52-18 with the final red still in play – the opportunity to clear and apply some pressure to McGill, who was leading 1-0.

And the 2020 Tour Championship winner looked to have taken the opportunity when he cut the red to the centre pocket. However, the white cannoned the pink, leading Johnson to say “wait for it, wait for it” as it arrowed towards the opposite centre pocket, before dropping.

“You couldn’t make it up, could you? Unbelievable!” added Johnson.

“No wonder McGill could see the funny side,” said Studd. “He will be mightily relieved as Maguire might have pinched that frame but he is smiling too. It is a sick smile I think!”