MAGUIRE ENDS STEVENS RUN
MATTHEW Stevens ran into a Stephen Maguire masterclass as he bowed out of last week’s BetVictor Welsh Open in Newport.
The Carmarthen snooker star lost 4-1 to the Scot at the secondround stage.
Stevens, twice a world semi-finalist, had eased through the first round with a 4-0 defeat of James Cahill, the player famous for knocking Ronnie O’Sullivan out of the first round of the World Championships two years ago when still an amateur.
But Maguire was an altogether different proposition.
The 43-year-old Welshman scored just four points in the opening three frames as Maguire opened up a commanding advantage in the best-of-seven encounter
He fired in a break of 72 in the opening frame, followed it up with a 104 in the second and then made breaks of 60 and 71 in the third.
Stevens rallied with a 51 of his own to narrow the gap, but Maguire was not for catching as he rifled in another century to close the match out.
A high-quality match lasting just five frames saw.four half-centuries and two ton breaks.
Llanelli’s Jamie Clarke was also out of luck in the tournament, played at its new home of the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, as he was beaten 4-0 by Oliver Lines in the first round.
Mark Williams progressed the furthest of any Welsh player, reaching the semi-finals before losing to Ronnie O’Sullivan.
But the reigning world champion was shocked in the final by Jordan Brown.
The world No. 81 was a 750-1 outsider when he arrived in Newport, but shocked six-time world champion O’Sullivan in a thrilling final, taking the deciding frame with a break of 74 to win 9-8.
Brown, the lowest-placed winner of a ranking tournament since 1993, has flown up to 45 in the world following his fairytale run and becomes the fourth Northern Irishman to win a ranking title after Alex Higgins, Dennis Taylor and Mark Allen.
“I always believed in myself,” he said. “I had some dark days in my snooker life but that makes you a stronger person.
“All of those sacrifices and hard work; I was working in a petrol station and playing full-time snooker as well.
“Five years ago I said I would give it a proper go because I had never really committed myself before that. It’s all paying off now.
“It’s a very proud moment as I’m a very proud Northern Irishman. To follow in the footsteps of those who have won ranking events – Alex, Dennis and my good pal Mark – it’s a dream come true to be part of that history.
“It’s going to lead to bigger and better things. I’ve made my mark on the snooker world now and accomplished what I felt I was capable of. It won’t stop there.”
Brown was assured from the outset and took a 5-3 lead into the evening session.
The Antrim potter kept his composure amid an O’Sullivan fightback and came through his fourth decider of the week to deny the world No. 3 a record-equalling fifth Welsh Open crown.
“Ronnie is the greatest of all time and it’s an honour just to play him,” Brown said.
“I just had to concentrate on my game. If you take your chances it doesn’t matter who is in the other chair.”
Brown earns £70,000 from lifting the Ray Reardon Trophy.