I’m getting used to amateur mistakes ...I’m honestly one of the worst players in top 32
Maguire fuming after tossing away semi spot at Masters
DISGUSTED Scot Stephen Maguire branded himself “amateurish” as he crashed out of the Masters.
Misfiring Maguire was upset 6-5 by Yan Bingtao of China in a gripping quarter-final at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes yesterday afternoon.
And after missing out on a showdown with Stuart Bingham today, the Milton potter said: “I’m just not good enough.
“Some of the mistakes I make are amateurish – it’s just amateur stuff.”
The 39-year-old’s frustration boiled over when he missed a routine red to a middle pocket and he angrily punched the table. The squandered opportunity denied the four-time Masters semi-finalist a 4-2 lead as debutant Bingtao roared back to become the youngest semi-finalist for 14 years. Maguire, who still pocketed £30,000 for his troubles, said: “I lost the match with that one shot to go 4-2 up. After that, I knew I couldn’t win. “If I can’t win the frame from that position then you deserve nothing in this game. I resigned at that point. I’m getting used to it, it’s what I do. I’m honestly one of the worst players in the top 32. If you can’t take chances like that then you’re not good – it’s that simple.
“During the season if you can’t take chances the way I throw them away, then you’re not good enough to win tournaments and that’s what my career’s all about.”
Maguire trailed 2-0, 4-3 and 5-4 but a top run of 137 put him in line for the high break prize as he forced a deciding frame.
But 20-year-old Bingtao kept his cool to sink a superb 141 break in the final frame, snatching the £15,000 tourney high break from Maguire and keeping hopes alive of the £250,000 first prize.
He also denied the Scot another guaranteed £30,000 if he had made it into the final four. Maguire said: “He’s nicked about £45,000 off me in that last frame!
“But I just wasn’t good enough. He played better than me. I was lucky to be 5-5.
“I’ve got no complaints, I was beaten by the better player.
“I deserved nothing. After 3-2 I was just thinking about the journey home.
“He didn’t even play well there, he should have bashed me up. He let me off the hook in the first session.
“I need about three chances a frame. I had the balls perfect in a few of those frames, like you can’t ask for any better, get to 30 or 40 and make silly mistakes.
“If you can’t win the frame when the reds are absolutely perfect, then you’re not good enough. Maybe I’m only where I am (in the sport) because everybody else isn’t very good. Only the top four or five players at the top of the game are proper players and then there’s a gap – and the gap is massive. I’m in the lower part of the gap.”
Bingtao returns to the table this lunchtime to face the defending champion and said: “I’m absolutely over the moon.
“I’m really excited to be in the semi-finals. I made the highest break of my career so I’m really proud of that.
“It’s my first Masters and, to be honest, I didn’t think I’d win my first-round match.
“Now I’m in the semi-finals. It’s a huge event and a big win for me.”