Maguire lashes out at ‘diabolical’ conditions

STEPHEN MAGUIRE blasted the “diabolical” Crucible conditions after slumping to a shock first-round defeat at the World Championship.

The Glaswegian was stunned 10-4 by world No.69 Jamie Jones as his miserable run of form continued in Sheffield.

Maguire, the world No.8, had opened up a 3-1 lead in Saturday’s opening session, but fell apart yesterday as breaks of 81, 73 and 65 from Welshman Jones – returning to the tour after a one-year ban for failing to report a corruption approach – dumped him out at the first hurdle for the second year running.

The Scot was left fuming about the table after blowing his early lead but insisted he was not making excuses after another premature defeat.

“The game’s hard enough and it’s a tough game out there,” he said. “I was talking to Jamie and I hope he tells you guys – the conditions were just diabolical. They really were. I said it when I was 3-1 up so I don’t mind saying it now that I lost. I did say to them when I was 3-1 up the table was shocking. So it’s no sour grapes, I’m just telling the truth.

“I was talking to Jamie during the match and he was agreeing with me, so that didn’t help. And when you’re not cueing well, it just magnifies it and you lose trust in your cue action and everything you’re doing. That’s what happened and that’s why I got beat easily.

“I’m frustrated. I didn’t even think there was a word for that and how I played out there. If there is a word, I’ll get fined.

In other matches, 2010 champion Neil Robertson beat Liang Wenbo 10-3, reigning Masters champion Yan Bingtao overcame Martin Gould 10-6 and world No.15 David Gilbert toppled underdog Chris Wakelin 10-4.

John Higgins was 4-3 down to Tian Pengfei, while Anthony McGill was 5-4 ahead against Ricky Walden.