UK Snooker Championship: Stephen Maguire sends John Higgins spinning out in battle of the Scots

STEPHEN Maguire last night made no apologies for dumping troubled pal John Higgins out of the UK Championship.

Maguire won their all-Scots showdown 6-3 at York and became the first player through to the quarter-finals.

Maguire said: “John’s struggling. He’s struggling for confidence and it’s definitely not nice to see.

“But I’m 100 per cent sure he’s going to come back so I might as well kick him when he’s down.

“I’ve beaten him a few times on the spin now but he’s done me quite a few times – more than I’ve done him. So that’s a great win. Any time you beat John Higgins is a great moment. John struggled all the way through the match but I was struggling through the first four frames.

“However, I felt good in the match and especially after the interval. I thought at 2-2, ‘Have I given it away?’ and ‘Is John going to come back the way he can?’ But I was happy with the way I knuckled down and played after the interval.”

Maguire sank a tournament high break of 142 which will earn him an additional £4000 if it is not bettered.

He said: “Getting the high break was a bonus. I promised I’d pay for a boys’ night out at Christmas so I’ll use the money for that.”

Next up for Maguire is a showdown tomorrow with either world No.1 Neil Robertson or Joe Perry.

The Glaswegian added: “They don’t come easy now but I’m ready for whoever I play.

“The tournament starts now. I have a day off and can sit back and watch the other boys twitching and trying their hardest.

“I can chill out, totally refresh and come back focused for my next match.”

Higgins said: “I knew it was coming. I missed a black in the fifth frame which was just unforgivable.

“That probably gave Stephen a bit of confidence and helped him relax because it was as if
I was not going to push him at all.

“But after the interval he hit the ball really well.

“He has a good chance of winning it if he keeps on playing like that.”