Blackpool snooker star James Cahill won't make a Crucible return this year

The Marton 25-year-old was edged out 6-5 by the Northern Irishman Gerard Greene in a nip-and-tuck contest in Sheffield.

There was never more than one frame between the pair and the match featured only two half-century breaks, both 57s by Greene.

Cahill, who had defeated Sean Maddocks 6-1 in the first round, twice came from behind before taking the lead for the first time at 3-2.

Greene, ranked 13 places above Cahill at world number 75, then won two frames for a 4-3 lead only for Cahill to take the next two and move within one of victory at 5-4.

However, two more frames for Greene sealed his third-round encounter with 22nd-ranked Gary Wilson today, ending Cahill's hopes of returning to the Crucible venue where he shook the snooker world as an amateur with a first-round victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan in 2019.

That world championship run earned Cahill two years back on the professional tour but he has endured a miserable 2020/21 campaign, failing to progress beyond the second round of any ranking tournament.

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