SNOOKER: Tables turned on Nigel Bond as he bows out of UK Championship

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MARATHON-MAN Nigel Bond was left cursing Lady Luck as he failed to pull another 11th-hour victory out of the bag as he went down in the UK Snooker Championship third round.

The 49-year-old former world number five lost 6-5 to young Scot Anthony McGill at the York Barbican in his second match in three days to go to a deciding frame.

After the Derbyshire player’s heroics on Saturday, where he came from 5-0 down to beat fifth-ranked Barry Hawkins, Bond felt what it was like to be on the other side as McGill recovered from 4-1 down to triumph.

And in the decider a lucky break off the reds gave the up-and-comer what he needed to make a break of 76 to seal the win, much to Bond’s frustration.

“I played well to go 4-1 up but then there were a few scrappy frames,” said Bond. “But he did get lucky.

“In the eighth frame he went for a yellow in the corner and it missed, went the length of the table and in the other corner.

“That’s hard to take as at 5-3 up I’d have been in the driving seat.

“Towards the end I didn’t get any of the run and after he missed the pack in the final frame he’s been left on a perfect plant which he could then break up the balls and make a frame-winning break.

“It just wasn’t meant to be my day I guess.”

Despite the loss, Bond’s epic comeback in round two and his more conventional 6-3 victory over Stuart Carrington in his opener has given him confidence heading into the coming weeks.

“I can be positive as I’ve played some good snooker but I’m disappointed to lose that way. It felt like I could have gone on a bit of a run really,” he added.

“It wasn’t a case of being affected by the other night as I’ve had a day off and time to rest and refocus. Having won that game I was really up for this one as it gave me a lot of confidence.

“I’m not exhausted at the moment in time as the adrenaline is still pumping. This is what we do.

“I’ll be heading to the PTC in Portugal in a couple of weeks, so I’ll be looking to recharge and prepare for that.

“I played with quite a bit more confidence than I have done after the Barry Hawkins game, so we’ll see what happens.”

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