Mark Selby fell victim of the Crucible curse as the world championship debutant Anthony McGill pulled off a major shock.
The qualifier McGill exuded calm assurance as he saw off the defending champion 13-9 to book a quarter-final place, never appearing overawed by the match or the gradual position of control he developed.
McGill said: “I’m just ecstatic. To beat the world champion at the Crucible, I just can’t believe it
“No-one expected me to win. I wasn’t expecting myself to win, I was just hoping to put up a decent fight and try my best.
“I knew if I gave everything my mind would have been at ease whatever the result
“To beat Mark 13-9 is just a dream. I knew it wasn’t over even when it went 12-7. He’s not world champion for nothing.
“Time and time again Mark Selby comes back at people, and better players than me.
“It seems like every time I win a game it’s the biggest win of my career. Fingers crossed it keeps happening.”
McGill will be careful not to let his mind drift beyond a last-eight clash with Murphy or Joe Perry, who begin their second-round clash on Sunday.
“I’ve knocked out the world champion, so you think whoever knocks him out could [win the title] - but I don’t know,” McGill said.
“It’s going all right but I’m not winning enough frames in one visit. There’s a few areas I need to brush up on before I start thinking about those things.
“I don’t think people will be fearing me.
“I’m probably a good draw in the quarter-finals of the World Championship to be honest. I’ll just go out and try my best.
“Some players might let the attention get to their head but not me.”
McGill’s first world championship had already been one to remember before he crossed cues with Selby, having beaten his fellow Glaswegian and sometime practice partner Stephen Maguire 10-9 in the opening round, finishing with a century.
Sinking Selby made it even more special, and now the sky is the limit for the 24-year-old, who has been quietly earmarked for greatness by those who know him best.
The former Crucible semi-finalist Alan McManus, a close friend and a steady hand on McGill’s shoulder, has tipped the former Junior Pot Black runner-up to take the trophy in Sheffield one day, and Ronnie O’Sullivan said there would be no worthier champion because of his dedication.
In 2005, Shaun Murphy came through qualifying and went on to lift the title. Tantalisingly Murphy could be next in line for McGill, a slender, shy man with a short ginger crop and a contagious giggle he often breaks into around the table.
Selby, the Jester from Leicester, found little to laugh about during their contest.
Like Murphy 10 years ago, McGill was a 150-1 outsider with bookmakers before the tournament began.
McGill was the architect of Selby’s demise, but the famous curse, which has at the very least become a factor lodged in the back of every first-time champion’s mind, will be cited too.
No maiden winner of the world championship in Sheffield has returned a year later to retain the trophy, with Selby becoming the 16th man to falter, joining a list that includes greats of the game such as Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and O’Sullivan.
A steady opening session on Thursday had enabled he and McGill to reach 4-4, but the Scot stretched 10-6 clear by lunch on Friday after firing breaks of 56, 125 and 54, and there was no flinching from the outsider when play resumed in the evening.
They shared the opening two frames, before 87 from McGill took him 12-7 clear, inflicting a mortal blow to Selby’s prospects. When Selby edged the next he at least had the thinking time the subsequent interval allowed, knowing he needed a further five frames without reply to extend his defence.
He re-emerged with a break of 101 to make it 12-9 and keep McGill waiting. But not for long. After a safety battle, McGill potted a terrific red to the middle pocket and was away on a victory charge, firing in a brilliant 82 before Selby offered a warm handshake.
