Maguire’s pal helped cue a quarters spot
Stephen Maguire is into the Crucible quarters... thanks to his mate’s cue.
The Scot borrowed it after being frustrated with his performance in the World Championship first round against Shaun Murphy.
And the gamble paid off as the 41-year-old downed UK Championship winner Zhao Xintong 13-9.
Maguire, who has banked £ 50,000 for his progress already, said: “I changed it because I’m nuts.
“It’s my mate’s cue – big Brian Taylor. He’ll be over the moon. I hope I can keep it. I’ll ask him how much he wants. Hopefully it’s not a lot and I can square him up.
“He’s a mate so hopefully he gives me a good price, we’ll see. I’ve been tinkering a bit, going from ash to maple and things like that.
“I made up my mind after my first-round match that I wouldn’t play with that same cue because I’d have no chance.
“I practised with it for a couple of days and I liked it. It seems like a good move. I know a few professionals haven’t changed their cues for 25 years and I bet they’re rubbish.”
Maguire resumed with an 11-5 overnight lead and admitted he felt “quite flat” in the final session with one foot already in the last eight.
The Scot, into a seventh Crucible quarter- f inal , added: “I know I’m not going to out-pot Zhao. I just put him in the long grass. If his fancy long shots go in, you just shake their hand.
“He’s never experienced a first-to-13-frames. I just thought if I could keep with him or, even better, keep on top of him, the Crucible’s a horrible place when the other guy’s beating you up.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan made Crucible history as he routed Mark Allen 13- 4 to reach a record 20th quarter-final.
The Rocket blew away the 2018 Masters champion to win a 71st match, another record, at snooker’s spiritual home in Sheffield.
O’Sullivan, out to match Stephen Hendry’s record of seven Crucible crowns, said: “If you look at Bruce Lee, he trained for many hours, not just mentally but physically.
“We’re experts in different fields but I try to approach my sport in a way which is no different.”
Scot Anthony McGill is 4- 4 with Judd Trump, with the pair set to return today.