McGill Is Fifth Recent Maiden Snooker Championship Winner

Anthony McGill’s victory in the Indian Open made him the fifth first time winner of a world ranking event within the past 16 months.

McGill joins Michael White (2015 Indian Open), Joe Perry (2015 Players Championship), Kyren Wilson (2015 Shanghai Masters) and Martin Gould (2016 German Masters) in lifting a ranking event trophy for the first time.

White, Gould and McGill all triumphed at events using flat 128 draws, each needing to win seven matches to take the first prize. Wilson’s Shanghai victory came in an tournament where the top 16 were seeded through to the venue, while Perry’s success came in an event where players qualified via the European and Asian Tour Orders of Merit.

Prior to White’s win in March 2015, there had only been four first time winners in the previous six years: Stuart Bingham (2011 Australian Goldfields Open), Judd Trump (2011 China Open), Mark Allen (2012 World Open) and Barry Hawkins (2012 Australian Goldfields Open).

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “The fact that we are seeing more first time winners these days highlights two things. Firstly there are many more tournaments on the calendar now which gives more opportunity for all players to win titles. Secondly, the flat draws we introduced in 2013, alongside the transition to prize money-based rankings, provide a better chance for the best young talent to succeed.

Anthony McGill

“I have been delighted to see three players in their mid-20s – Michael White, Kyren Wilson and Anthony McGill – winning ranking titles and proving they have the ability to take on the established top stars. And we have seen others like Luca Brecel, Ben Woollaston and Gary Wilson reach ranking finals, all in flat draw events. Every sport thrives on new talent and snooker has it in abundance. I anticipate more promising players grasping their opportunities and making a breakthrough in the season ahead.”