I was one ball from world championship final but off-table issues show me there’s more important things than snooker

ANTHONY McGILL has revealed off-table problems have seen his form plummet on the baize.

At his brilliant best, McGill is a match for anyone on the World Snooker Tour and was famously one ball away from reaching the World Championship final in 2020.

PA

The Scottish ace has opened up on struggling form[/caption]

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McGill at the Crucible in 2020 during his sensational run to the semi-final[/caption]

McGill, a two-time ranking-event winner, begins his UK Championship qualifying bid today.

And the world No.39, who needs two wins to qualify, said: “I’ve had a lot of off-table stuff happening, at the end of the day there are more important things than snooker, my family.

“Hopefully my snooker goes well, but if not then it’s not the end of the world. 

“Snooker is not the be-all and end-all.

“I know my results aren’t good, my ranking isn’t good and all the rest of it, but it’s just snooker.

“It doesn’t really matter, but hopefully I get it [my hunger] back, that’s if I don’t fall off the tour by then.

“It’s tough, even if everything is rosy. It’s still difficult.

“I’m still practising hard, it’s not as if I’m doing anything I shouldn’t be doing.

“It’s just not been happening.”

Meanwhile, fellow Scot Graeme Dott will not compete at York’s Barbican for a third year running.

The 2006 world champion was dumped out 6-4 by Julien Leclercq in the second round of qualifying.

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