Stephen Lee hails Stephen Maguire for his impressive performance in semis of 2012 China Open
Winner of the 2011-12 Players Tour Championship (PTC) grand Finals, England’s Stephen Lee entered the Beijing University Students Gymnasium arena with the hopes to beat the Scotsman Stephen Maguire in the semi-final clash of the 2012 China Open snooker event
and hit the finals. However, unfortunately the Englishman was not able to fulfil his ambitions and lost to the Scot by 2-6.
The Trowbridge potter was on top of his game after he clinched the PTC Finals and was all set to show his class in the Chinese tournament. He started pretty well with some impressive victories over compatriot Tom Ford, Graeme Dott and the defending champion
Judd Trump. The World Number eight was confident to beat the Maggi in their semi-final game.
The Wiltshire-based cueman went neck-and-neck with the Scot in the first session and pulled level at 2-2 to put him under a lot of pressure. However, the tables turned in the second session as Lee tumbled down brutally and lost the game by 2-6. After the
penultimate battle, the 37-year-old Lee appreciated Maguire for his impressive performance in the competition.
Speaking to World Snooker, Lee said, “Stephen's a class act, he's a good player. He played solid in the first frame - he had a fluke and made a break off it. He's a solid player, if you're not on your game he beats you nine times out of ten. But it's just
one of those things, I've had a great week and I'm looking forward to a bit of time off now and preparing for the World.”
He added, “I think I've had seven or eight hours sleep in the last few days. I've been over here now for a week but it feels like a few weeks. I think confidence has got me through the last few matches.”
Lee will now be aiming to regain his spark in the upcoming 2012 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield where all top dogs of snooker will fight for the ultimate snooker glory. Lee is feeling confident of playing in the mega event
and believes he can perform well in the championship.
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