Marco Fu breezed past former victor Peter Ebdon 10-2 while two-time runner-up Ali Carter shocked defending champion Stuart Bingham in the first round of the snooker world championship in Sheffield on Saturday.
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Two-time former runner-up Carter said he would be “fresh as a daisy” for the tournament, despite having to contest three best-of-19-frame qualifying matches, the latest on Wednesday when he saw off Dominic Dale.
Five time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has landed himself in hot water after just one match at the Crucible in Sheffield.
“I didn’t feel comfortable all the way through the match, I missed chances and maybe it wasn’t meant to be”.
McManus, 45, will tackle Carter next, and said: “Ali should definitely be a top 16 player without any doubt, but I’m looking forward to it”.
“I’d been chopping and changing my cues, and obviously with getting older you’re thinking of previous people who have got to a certain age, and that it’s just a natural progression – that you’re going to go downhill”.
“Regret? I’m not sure, I was just a young lad who didn’t listen to anyone. I believe I can win it”. Bingham finally hit back in the seventh frame to stop the rot, then came straight back to the table and produced a break of 96 to trim the deficit to two. “I think the Rocket (O’Sullivan) and the Nugget (Steve Davis) have nicked a lot of them and it’s my turn to nick one I think”.
Bingham beat Shaun Murphy in the final past year and is now trying to break the Curse of the Crucible by becoming the only first-time victor to successfully defend the title.
Bingham was an unlikely victor past year, having started the tournament as a 50-1 outsider, but this time he was on the receiving end of a surprise result. I fancied winning the decider, I felt as if it was my turn.
“But he hasn’t had the best of seasons and coming here with everyone talking about the Crucible curse, it’s set up for him to go wrong”.
Carter said: “Stuart had everything to lose and nothing to gain”.
Peter Ebdon was a victim of the so-called curse in 2003, exiting to Paul Hunter in the quarter-finals.
Gilbert, who reached a first major final this year at the International Championship in China, said: “I am getting on a bit in years myself, and have made a lot of errors to getting to where I am”.
Scotland’s Anthony McGill eyed snooker’s ultimate prize after knocking out former victor Shaun Murphy in the first round of this year’s World Championship at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre on Sunday.
Mark Williams seized the upper hand against fellow former world champion Graeme Dott, powering 7-2 ahead, while Sam Baird opened up a 5-4 lead over Michael White.
A tight first session finished with Carter narrowly in front at 5-4.
As Murphy headed for home, beaten 10-8 and joining Bingham on the first-round casualty list, McGill dared to dream.
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McGill, 25, excelled at the Crucible 12 months ago, beating Stephen Maguire and defending champion Mark Selby.
