DING IN THE TAIL
Maguire’s final misery as Chinese star crushes his UK Championship dream
GUTTED Scot Stephen Maguire slumped to a painful UK Championship final defeat last night.
The Glaswegian was bidding to win his second UK title 15 years after his famous 2004 triumph.
But Chinese superstar Ding Junhui pleased his army of fans back home by beating Maguire 10-6 to take the crown in a classic final at York’s Barbican.
Runner-up Maguire picked up £80,000 and admitted: “It’s tough at the top. It’s a hard game playing guys like Ding when he’s playing so well.
“It just wasn’t meant to be, he saw it out amazingly well and I have no complaints.
“There were nerves early on but you don’t miss blacks off the spot because of nerves. It was lackadaisical. “I just didn’t settle and I lost the match in the first four frames. I just couldn’t get level after that. “I’ve had a great week,
I’ve competed with the best. I’ll enjoy the Scottish Open next week and then have a good Christmas.
“I thought if I could get in towards the end then I could win but it was hard to get in against him.”
Ding joined a list of snooker greats who have won three UK crowns, alongside Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins.
The former World Championship finalist ended 28 months of hurt to pocket his 14th ranking crown and bank the tasty £200,000 top prize.
Maguire produced a pot-perfect performance in the semi-finals to reach his third UK final.
But he failed to fire early on as Ding dominated proceedings and led 5-3 after the afternoon session with 56, 105 and 128 breaks.
Maguire produced a spirited scoring spree with three centuries in four frames to trail 8-6.
But Ding signed off in style with 131 and 103 breaks to win a first ranking crown since the 2017 World Open.
Ding dedicated the win to his young daughter and said: “I can’t wait to see her. I want her to have the best daddy.
“I’ve lifted the trophy again and that’s really special.
“I’ve not done anything for two years.
“My friend looked at me and told me I wasn’t happy but I’m happy now.
“He brought me life during a tough period in my career. I’ve been asking myself if I could win again. The answer has always been no.
“I started to believe in myself when I beat Ronnie and I’ve finally won again.”
Meanwhile, Scott Donaldson is desperate to bury his Scottish Open hoodoo at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow this week.
The Perth potter has soared up the world rankings in recent years.
But he said: “For some reason I’ve just not performed at the Scottish Open. It’s just one of those things, unfortunately there’s no explanation for it.
“I’ve never been great there, never actually played that well. So I hope that I’m due a good performance.”
It just wasn’t meant to be..he saw it out, I have no complaints STEPHEN MAGUIRE