Maguire on a mission
STEPHEN MAGUIRE thrashed Rory McLeod with a session to spare to surge into the quarterfi nals of the Betfred World Championship last night.
McLeod, a 46- year- old journeyman from Wellingborough, caused a sensation in the fi rst round by dumping out favourite Judd Trump.
But against Maguire, 36 and twice a Crucible semi- fi nalist, he fell to pieces and the world No24 clinically picked him off for a 13- 3 victory.
Maguire is, by his own admission, a career underachiever . But this year he has dropped just fi ve frames, against McLeod and in a 10- 2 drubbing of Anthony McGill in round one.
Scot Maguire said: “I don’t fear anyone – if I play the way I want to play, I fancy winning.
“I’m supposed to have talent, but I have never done it here . I should have got to the fi nal in 2007 when I lost to John Higgins in the semis, that was a year maybe I should have won it.
“It used to annoy me seeing other people winning titles, less so now. I would love to win this but I don’t dwell on things as much now. Maybe it is old age and I’m mellowing.”