World Snooker Championship: China’s Si Jiahui continues stunning run to reach semis after Anthony McGill nail-biter
- The 20-year-old Chinese debutant edges Anthony McGill 13-12 to set up a clash with Luca Brecel, who shocked Ronnie O’Sullivan
- ‘I kept it tight and kept my nerves under control, just pushed through it. I held myself together very well at the end,’ Si says
China’s Si Jiahui continued his incredible run at snooker’s World Championship in Sheffield, edging a nail-biter against Anthony McGill to become the first debutant to reach the semi-finals in their first appearance at the tournament.
Si kept his cool in a back-and-forth clash to win a deciding late-night frame for a 13-12 victory against the 32-year-old Scot, who was playing his third quarter-final in four years.
The 20-year-old Si will now face Luca Brecel in the last four – his first ever semi-final appearance in a professional tournament – after the Belgian came back from 10-6 down to knock out seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan 13-10.
“I kept it tight and kept my nerves under control, just pushed through it,” Si told the BBC, speaking through a translator. “I held myself together very well at the end.”
The world No 80, who came through three matches in qualifying, has embraced his chance to play at the famed Crucible Theatre for the first time, beating 2005 champion Shaun Murphy and veteran Robert Milkins to set up Wednesday’s clash with McGill.
