Scotland’s Stephen Maguire surges into quarters after beating Matthew Stevens: 2012 Welsh Open
Following Mark Williams’ defeat, at the hands of the Rocket Ronnie O’Sullivan, another Welsh potter Matthew Stevens crashed out of the 2012 Welsh Open.
Scotland’s Stephen Maguire played convincingly to triumph over the Welshman by the score line of 4-2 and throw him out of the event. With Stevens’ defeat, Welsh hopes of clinching the tournament title have ended.
The 2012 German Masters snooker event finalist, Maguire began his Welsh event campaign in a superb fashion beating England’s Adam Wicheard by 4-2. His victory in the first round gave him the confidence he needed to beat a player like Stevens. The Livewire
fired a couple of cracking knocks to unnerve the Welshman at the Newport Centre arena in Newport.
Maguire clinched an early 1-0 lead over Stevens after claiming the first frame victory potting a near-half-century break of 47 points. Stevens responded well in the second frame but a poor safety shot from him caused him the second frame defeat and Maguire
moved within two frames lead at 2-0. The 34-year-old Stevens added one frame win on his side of the scoreboard at 2-1 with a stunning clearance of 84.
Maggi maintained his two-frame lead at 3-1 after he triumphed over Stevens in the fourth frame. However, the fifth frame was dominated by the Carmarthen potter, Stevens, as he cleared the table in no time with a cracking 66-point break to take the scores
at 3-2. Sixth scrappy frame proved to be the last of the match because Maguire won it taking advantage of Stevens’ missed red.
While speaking to the World Snooker after trouncing Stevens in Round 2, Maguire said, “I know Matthew doesn't like using the rest and it was a tough shot on that red - I was relieved when he missed it. On my way down to Newport I was thinking that I just
wanted to get through the first two matches, then you're back to best of nines. I'm hoping for a good weekend now.”
The World Number seven Maguire has now reached the quarter-final stage of the 2012 Welsh Open where he will be meeting the World Number one, England’s Mark Selby at the Newport Centre arena.
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