Judd Trump became the biggest casualty of the 2023 world snooker championship so far, after the 2019 champion fell to a 10-6 first-round defeat against Anthony McGill.
The No 5 seed had threatened a revival when he reduced a 6-3 overnight deficit by winning the first two frames of the day, but he ran aground on a break of 40 in the next, and McGill capitalised to move clear again and ultimately get over the line.
Another shock could be on the cards with Shaun Murphy trailing Si Jiahui 5-4 after their first session. Murphy, one of the favourites to lift the title, had to apologise to Si after his first-round exit to the Chinese at the 2021 UK Championship, when he had suggested amateurs should not be taking part. Murphy had complained that his opponent “shouldn’t even be in the building”.
The rant caused an outcry and Murphy, now the world No4 after winning the Players Championship and Tour Championship in the runup to the Crucible, later said he regretted the timing of his outburst but said he stood by his point of view.
Trump, who was beaten by Ronnie O’Sullivan in last year’s final, said: “I just missed too many easy balls. I had loads of chances in today’s session but I couldn’t take them, and you can’t expect to play like that and win in the world championship.
“I feel like this season I’ve been very rusty,” he added. “I’ve made a lot of easy mistakes that I shouldn’t be making … it’s hard to enjoy it when you play like that. I’d much rather Anthony played me off the table but I had my chances and when you’re missing those easy balls, it’s not easy to take.”
McGill, a former Crucible semi-finalist who had fought through qualifying, was not at his best either but patiently punished Trump’s mistakes, not least a jawed pink to the middle that could have hauled him back within one frame at 8-7 behind.
“I didn’t feel amazing but I played well enough to capitalise,” admitted McGill. “I like these long matches, because you can settle in and don’t feel under it right away. It’s incredible to be a part of and I’m glad I’ve got another three sessions to enjoy it.”
McGill will next face Trump’s close friend, Jack Lisowski, after the No 12 seed held off a late fightback from Noppon Saengkham to win 10-7. Lisowski began the morning session 6-3 up and quickly moved 9-4 ahead, with the Thai qualifier taking his solitary frame on a respotted black.
Saengkham rattled off three frames in a row as the match resumed, hitting a 62 break and fine 130 clearance. Lisowski, a quarter-finalist last year, appeared to be feeling the pressure in the 17th frame at 9-7 up, but Saengkham could not capitalise and his opponent scrapped his way to victory.
Earlier on Wednesday, Kyren Wilson recorded the first maximum 147 break of this year’s tournament, and the 13th in Crucible history, on his way to 10-5 victory against Ryan Day.
Day, the British Open champion, had moved into an early 2-0 lead with a break of 75 but Wilson, runner-up at the Crucible in 2020, responded with fine clearances of 133 and 83 to head into the mid-session interval with the match all square at 2-2.
Wilson continued his momentum on returning to the table as he built towards a perfect clearance, sinking a fine final red and black before sweeping up the colours. “Absolute honour to make a maxi at the prestigious Crucible Theatre,” Wilson later tweeted. Stuff dreams are made of! Thank you everyone for your messages!”
The No 7 seed becomes the ninth player to make a 147 at the Sheffield venue, the fourth maximum of his career. Wilson took a 6-3 lead into Wednesday’s evening session and he had little trouble in completing a 10-5 victory that included five centuries. Wilson faces John Higgins in the last 16.
Mark Selby, the four-times former champion, leads Matthew Selt 6-3 after their opening session.
