Snooker professional Stephen Maguire expressed his frustration at continually falling short against Ronnie O’Sullivan after a 13-year wait for victory. The recent Xi’an Grand Prix in China provided Maguire with another opportunity to conquer O’Sullivan, but the latter emerged victorious with a dominant 5-0 win, showcasing remarkable breaks of 134, 70, 63, and 85.
Admiring O’Sullivan’s exceptional performance, Maguire acknowledged the vast gap in their skills, emphasizing his dedication to improving through practice. Reflecting on his past encounters with O’Sullivan, Maguire humorously speculated about unknowingly upsetting the snooker legend, who consistently delivers top-notch gameplay.
Although O’Sullivan did not clinch the Xi’an Grand Prix title, Gary Wilson managed to defeat him 5-2 in the quarter-finals. Wilson highlighted the strategic challenge of facing O’Sullivan, emphasizing the need to maintain composure and focus during their matches.
Subsequently, Shaun Murphy’s impressive display of three centuries led him to the final, where he was ultimately defeated 10-3 by Mark Williams, who became the oldest player to win a ranking event at the age of 50.
As Maguire aims to climb back up the rankings, currently standing at 25th globally, he remains determined to regain a spot in the top 16. Following a recent victory against Luca Brecel, Maguire prepares to face China’s Si Jiahui in the upcoming round of 32 at the Northern Ireland Open.
Reflecting on the competitive snooker landscape, Maguire acknowledged the challenges of the sport and the importance of upcoming tournaments in reshaping his ranking. Despite his Championship League victory in July, Maguire downplayed his success, viewing it as a stepping stone towards future competitions like the Grand Prix series.
In other news, Sky has introduced discounted rates for its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the upcoming season, offering members significant savings and access to over 1,400 live matches, including Premier League and EFL games. Furthermore, Sky plans to broadcast a minimum of 215 live Premier League matches in the following season, a substantial increase from previous years.