First-round heartbreak for Blackpool snooker star James Cahill in UK Championship

Blackpool snooker star James Cahill fell to an agonising 6-5 defeat against former practice partner Andrew Higginson in the opening round of the UK Championship.
By Andy Moore
Published 26th Nov 2020, 12:50 BST
Updated 26th Nov 2020, 12:54 BST
The major tournaments are taking place in Covid-secure surroundings in Milton Keynes at present for snooker stars like Blackpool's James CahillThe major tournaments are taking place in Covid-secure surroundings in Milton Keynes at present for snooker stars like Blackpool's James Cahill
The major tournaments are taking place in Covid-secure surroundings in Milton Keynes at present for snooker stars like Blackpool's James Cahill
Read More
Cahill makes most of luck of the draw at last in Northern Ireland Open

The 24-year-old from Marton is best known for stunning six-time winner Ronnie O’Sullivan at last year’s World Championship, but it was in the UK Championship that Cahill first took the sport by storm, defeating then world number three Ding Junhui in 2015 and number one Mark Selby three years later.

Cahill has reached the second round for the last two years and looked set for a first-round victoryon Wednesday in Milton Keynes, where he led Higginson 5-3, requiring just one frame for victory.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Higginson, who Cahill defeated in that 2015 run, raced into a 2-0 lead with an opening-frame ton but Cahill kept his composure to level the tie, notching a half-century in the fourth.

A break of 63 earned the world number 77 the lead for the first time, and he duly stretched that to 4-2 and later 5-3 to put himself on the brink of victory.

But Higginson used his experience to launch an incredible comeback, making a break of 93 to claim the second of three successive frames and earn a meeting with former world champion Stuart Bingham over the weekend.

Higginson said: “James was really unlucky in that last frame (which finished 62-49). I don’t think the table played particularly well – the cushions were bouncing and we struggled.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We used to practice together quite a lot, particularly when James was coming on to the tour.

“He never got the better of me in practice, but as soon as it came to the matches he just upped his game and I struggled to keep hold of his coattails.

“He’s done me a few times in the UK Championship and World Championship qualifying in the final frame.

“But I rate him so highly – his technique and the way he hits the ball is as good as anyone. If he can get some momentum he can go very far.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Next up for Cahill is a tilt at the Scottish Open, starting a week on Monday, again in Milton Keynes due to Covid-19 restrictions. He faces Welshman Jamie Clarke in round one.

Watch the UK Championship LIVE on Eurosport and Eurosport app. Follow all the latest tournament news on Eurosport.co.uk

Related topics:Milton KeynesBlackpoolMark Selby