McManus` Experience Tells Against Youth
Experience ruled over youth, as Alan McManus won against fellow Glaswegian, AnthonyMcGill for the right to play in front of their hometown fans next month.
The 1995 Masters Champion dictated the pace of the match, with each of the three frames lasting around 30-minutes.
McGill never looked comfortable and made a series of errors, allowing McManus to win 3-0 despite a highest break of only 34.
James Wattana, another top player from the 90s who almost made it through, losing out in a final frame decider against Yorkshireman, Jimmy Michie.
Michie led 2-0 but Bangkok’s finest produced breaks of 72, 54 and 41 to force a shoot-out.
In the fifth he looked set to cap a fine comeback but missed on 39. Michie steadied the ship with some excellent tactical play before adding a run of 39 of his own before potting the blue to scrape home.
The biggest upset ensured that another home player will thrill the Glasgow fans next month as James McBain recovered from 2-0 down to beat Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen 3-2.
Allen opened with a 50 break and followed with a century (108), before breaks of 60 and 113 brought the Scot level in under 30-minutes.
The deciding frame was the longest of the match with both players squandering chances. In the end, McBain potted blue and pink to record the win.
