Reflections on an epic deciding frame in the 2020 World Snooker Championship

Well…I didn't feel like watching the World Snooker Championship through and through this year. I caught a glimpse of a few centuries and neck-and-neck final frames, until last evening when my eyes were glued on the screen. I am not talking about Ronny vs. Selby but Kyren Wilson vs. Anthony McGill.

There were many things that made this last frame the most impressive, one-of-a-kind matches of them all and it made me reflect on the similarities to corporate lives that some of us have.

A bit of a background to start with:

Wilson and McGill have been professional snooker players for 10 years now. They fought for a place in quarter final in the World Open 2016/17 where McGill beat Wilson to advance to the quarter finals. They never shared a table afterwards until last night...a decider for who would be in the finals.

Right from the start, despite that each craved to be the finalist, one could also see the warmth and mutual respect they had for each other…how they tapped the table for a good move and how they set clever traps for each other were signs of their characters.

The scores were neck and neck until McGill's shot led to him being snookered. That was when an average snooker game turned into an epic one, where being strong competitors didn’t override being kind, generous and even vulnerable:

- Empathy: it is an enormous pressure for a player to get themselves out of snooker and with every failed shot McGill was not only losing points but also his focus. When the camera showed Wilson, one could see that he was empathising with McGill's situation.

- Acknowledgement: this very uncomfortable try and fail ended with McGill losing 35 points. And what did Wilson do? He humbly and very respectfully acknowledged the effort as he moved to the table to take his shot.

- Perseverance and strength to get back in the game: While Wilson was taking his shots, McGill sat in his chair, composed himself, took a deep breath and got back in the game. It was about focusing on the next shot and what he could do, not moaning about what if's...

- Creating a fair playground/environment: More than an hour in the frame and there were only colours left on the table. It all depended on who got the green ball in first. Did Wilson, being ahead, very close to winning the deciding frame which will lead him to the final, rush into it? No, because this was a great environment for both players to thrive in, have an equal opportunity to win the game and have a fair, decent, gentlemanly and a proper snooker flow.

- Luck, chance, humility, acceptance with grace: then at the 62nd minute, the Snooker Gods played a trick and the green ball slowly but unintentionally went into the pocket...’the fluke of the century’...what did Wilson do? He immediately turned to McGill and said 'I am sorry' with tears in his eyes. What McGill did was commendable; it was his turn to empathise with Wilson to generously accept his apology. There was still a possibility for McGill to get a snooker for one point to turn the game in his favour. So, he soldiered on, kept his poise and went back to the table to fight for a place in the final…and what a last fight that was with only pink and black on the table.

- Appreciation for the competence and the experience itself: Both men were extremely gracious and full of emotions when they were interviewed. They weren't emotional towards each other but about the situation. They were kind and factual. Frustrated but composed. Very human and very caring. It was just a wonderful display of sportsmanship and fellowship.

Yet we can still say...'a game is a game' and 'business is business'. That is indeed true, corporate life is not a one-to-one game but a field for collaboration and empathy. Where do you see these attributes in action in your work life?