2014 UK Championship - Shocks on the rocks

Ants McGill beats hero John Higgins

I don't know what's your favourite drink, but if you are a truly snooker fan then you must enjoy this year's Coral UK Championship specialty, which is "Shocks on the rocks". 

It was served twice yesterday, once during the match between four-time world champion John Higgins, who got beaten by 6-5 by fellow-country-man Ants McGill and second during the cues battle between defending champion Neil Robertson and terrier Graeme Dott, who knelled him down by the same scoreline.

Although Higgins was the one to break the ice and took the opening frame against Anthony McGill, the red-head player fought-back and won the next one on the black to which he added three more after hitting in runs of 67, 41 and 37 for a 4-1 lead.

Higgins loses his chance to lift the trophy

The mighty Higgins pulled back two consecutive frames by performing those signature-steals of his with great class, but it was Ants who moved closer to the finish line after Higgins missed a double on 46, the youngster clearing the table with a 39.

Still, "The Wizard of Wishaw" had some magic left under the form of breaks like 69 and 129 to force the decider, but a missed red on 22, followed by a black on 17, gave McGill the chance to come to the table and seal his victory at 6-5.

A quieter match was taking place at the other table, Stuart Bingham practically flying over Ricky Walden, with breaks of 73, 67, 45, 40, 39 and 41 for a wonderful victory of 6-0.

Stuart has a place in the QFs

The evening session was going to bring yet another show of snooker, as defending champion Neil Robertson lost to 2006 world champion Graeme Dott, by 6-5.

The drama started early in the match, during the first two frames Neil not being able to score one single point, while Graeme was practically flying like a king around the table.

Break of 63, 52, 52, 46 and 41 were leaving his opponent stunned, as the Scotsman was 5-0 up! Just one more frame and it would have been over.

But all of the sudden, Neil woke up from the dead and actually started potting. A great effort and a tremendous bottle from the 2010 world champion!

Terrier Graeme Dott looks unstoppable

A series of heavy breaks (72, 100, 59, 106 and 59) was enough to complete the comeback and force the decider, but sadly for the Australian not enough to win him the match.

Dott missed a red on 22, leaving Robbo with a great chance, but on 15 he missed the brown, this granting the Scotsman one more shot at the victory, one that he fully committed to with a break of 56 that was leaving Robertson in need of no less than 5 snookers!

Although, the Aussie fought for all of them, he only got one and soon conceded the match.

Mark Davis met wonder-boy James Cahill, the lad that beat the actual number one Ding Junhui (the 1^st ever Asian to retain this position, to be more precise) just the day before, but who wasn't as sharp against his new opponent.

Robbo is out

Davis won the opener with just a top break of 36, to which Cahill responded with a 34, but the 18-year-old lad was going to have to wait the end of the interval for another chance at scoring for a frame, as Mark went 3-1 up with runs of 53, and 46.

Runs of 39 and 27 were keeping James' dream alive, as he now trailed by 3-2, but Davis was in for the kill, so with a great set of breaks (63, 68 and 38) won his much-desired place into the quarter-finals with a final 6-2 scoreline.

After the match Mark said: "If I get to the final I'll bring my wife and kids up. Just in case some miracle happens and I win a tournament."