Against All Odds: Anthony McGill Set to Stun Shaun Murphy and Claim British Open Glory
In an unexpected twist, Anthony McGill is poised to be crowned the 2025 Unibet British Open champion, as he faces off against Shaun Murphy in the final at the Centaur in Cheltenham on Sunday. The Glaswegian, who has been on a remarkable resurgence, reached his first ranking event final in eight years, overcoming fellow Scot John Higgins 6-3 in a thrilling semi-final.
McGill’s journey to the final has been nothing short of spectacular. After falling 3-2 behind against Higgins, he produced some of the finest snooker of his career, rattling off breaks of 50, 57, 104, and 93 to secure the win. Despite struggling in recent years, McGill, who was once ranked as high as number 12 in the world, has shown a return to form just when he needed it most. Having spent the last few seasons battling to stay within the top 60, his run to the final has already earned him £45,000 in prize money and a guaranteed rise to number 45 in the world rankings.
McGill, a two-time ranking event winner and former World Championship semi-finalist, has struggled to recapture his peak form in recent seasons. But this triumph, coming in the 2025/26 season’s fifth ranking event, has propelled him into the spotlight once again. A win over Murphy in the final would not only secure him the Clive Everton Trophy but also vault him close to the top 32 in the world rankings.
Standing in McGill’s way is Murphy, who comes into the final as the favorite. The two have met 12 times before, with Murphy holding an 8-4 lead in their head-to-head. However, McGill’s solitary victory over Murphy in the 2016 Indian Open gives him hope as he bids to make history and pull off an upset in the final. If he can build on his strong momentum, McGill could achieve a stunning and well-deserved victory, further cementing his place among snooker’s elite.
