Stephen Maguire didn't want to play snooker just months before Welsh Open resurgence

02/16/2025 06:50 AM

Stephen Maguire says it was only a matter of months ago that he didn’t want to pick up his cue, but that is a long way behind him after reaching Sunday’s Welsh Open final.

The former world number two has had a difficult time on the table, falling down the rankings and rarely being seen in the business end of big events.

His appearance in Saturday’s semi-final in Llandudno was his first ranking semi since 2021 and the final will be his first since 2020, in what has been a lean spell for the six-time ranking event winner.

Things were so bad earlier this season that he didn’t even want to play the game, but the 43-year-old has credited his work with coach Chris Small for getting him back into some kind of form.

It has been a tricky run in Wales this week, but Maguire has downed Xu Si, Mark Williams, Sanderson Lam, Jack Lisowski and Ali Carter to set up the Sunday showpiece with Mark Selby.

Asked if his work with former pro and ranking event winner Small is behind his resurgence, Maguire told WST: ‘It probably is, yeah.

‘A few months back I didn’t really want to play, I was getting beat by players who I thought I shouldn’t be getting beat by. I made the call to Chris and he stripped my game back from the very start. Maybe this is the reward.’

Maguire talked up his work with Small earlier this season, saying he reached a low point in his professional career and he needed to make a change to give him any chance of success.

Speaking in November, the world number 29 said: ‘I was messing about with far too many cues. I think I’ve used 10 cues this season in tournaments. I wasn’t blaming that but I wasn’t getting anywhere with it.

‘I went down to a qualifier at Sheffield and played some boy, can’t remember his name, and it’s the worst I’ve ever played as a professional. I couldn’t do anything. I tried my hardest, I was trying but couldn’t pot two balls on then spin. And that was a big tournament, the International [Championship].

‘So it was either go home, disappear for a week and do what I usually do. Or make a move and try and give it some, so I phoned Chris up. It’s been good. I’ve got a wee bit of life back.

‘I worked with Chris before, before Covid. I had to call him back up because I was going nowhere. At least I’m enjoying it a wee bit more, I’m putting in work, I’m putting in solo practice which I’ve not done for honestly years and years. I’ve been doing a lot myself and actually enjoying it. I basically started from scratch, ripped my whole game apart and started from scratch.’

The run in Llandudno has guaranteed Maguire a place in the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong next month and could turn his season around from a forgettable one to a successful campaign.

He is not thinking beyond the clash with Selby, though, and is just focussed on landing his first ranking title in five years.

‘It’s nice to be in the World Grand Prix now but for me it’s all about trying to win the title. I’ll only enjoy it tomorrow if I win.’

Maguire will be trying to keep the composure that he showed in his 6-4 semi-final win over Ali Carter on Saturday evening after watching the Captain struggling to remain cool himself.

Carter was getting frustrated, which Maguire has been known to do himself, but the Scot sounded like he learned from watching someone else suffer the same struggles he has in the past.

‘I found it easy because I was playing him. He was cracking up. The rest was getting thrown about, the extensions were getting thrown about,’ said Maguire of remaining composed.

‘I was thinking, is that the way I act? I think I better change if that’s the way I act.’

However, he admitted on Eurosport: ‘Listen, going forward I don’t know, tomorrow I could wreck the place!’

On the significant challenge of facing Selby in the final, he said: ‘I think it’s easier, I find it easier playing somebody I respect.

‘It’s going to sound terrible, but rather than at the qualifiers. I don’t think I’m anything special, but I prefer to play people that I know I have to be up for it and know I have to play well, rather than maybe if I play ok I’ll get through.’

Selby has beaten Haydon Pinhey, Elliot Slessor, Jamie Jones, John Higgins and Luca Brecel to reach the final and will face Maguire for the first time since 2022.

The Englishman won that meeting at the Masters but their overall head-to-head is very close, with Selby leading 16-15, with one draw, in their meetings across all competitions.