HIGH-FLYER MAGUIRE SEES OFF KING
STEPHEN Maguire set up a final clash with David Gray in the Travis Perkins UK Championship in York by defeating Mark King 9-4 at the Barbican Centre tonight (Saturday).
European Open champion Maguire led 5-3 after the afternoon session and wasted little time in adding the four extra frames he needed tonight. Runs of 104, 99 and 106 helped him to a place in the final of snooker’s second biggest ranking event.
Romford left-hander King, the 2004 Irish Masters runner-up, could only muster a high break of 30, while Maguire, a beaten finalist in the British Open at the Brighton Centre earlier this month, now has the chance to win his second ranking title. He will face Surrey’s Gray over 19 frames tomorrow.
The 23-year-old Glaswegian has been the bookmakers' favourite since he knocked out world champion and world No 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan in the second round last Saturday.
King looked strong in the early stages and lead 3-2, but Maguire turned the tide by winning six frames on the bounce. The Essex man at least forced a mid-session interval by clearing up in the 12th frame to make it 8-4.
But it was soon over as Maguire rolled in a 71 break to make sure of a showdown with Gray, who will be appearing in his third ranking final.
Gray and Maguire have only met once before, Gray a 5-0 victor at the LG Cup in 2001 at the Guild Hall in Preston.
"I feel strong, very strong," said Maguire, delighted with his success and confident of his chances of winning this year's tournament. "It was good snooker. Mark started off strong in the first session, so I was happy to be 5-3 ahead at the interval.
"But when I'm ahead I feel as though I can pull away. I'm attacking the balls every time I get in. I can't describe it, but I fancy I have an answer to anyone who is playing well. I couldn't ask for a much better start to the season."
He admits it is going to be "very tough" against Gray: "I owe him one," added Maguire, referring to his one previous meeting with Gray, a result he is keen to avenge. "David is going to make it tough for me. But even if I go out there and lose 10-0, I can be happy having reached the final.
Maguire will be watched tomorrow by parents Margaret and Pat and girlfriend Sharon, who will travel down from Glasgow.
