Stephen Maguire shuts down snooker legend's ‘nonsense' claim as he proves icon wrong by ending five-year title drought
CUE THE APPLAUSE Stephen Maguire shuts down snooker legend's 'nonsense' claim as he proves icon wrong by ending five-year title drought
STEPHEN MAGUIRE ended his five-year wait for a ranking title with an impressive victory over Joe O'Connor to clinch the Championship League in Leicester's Mattioli Arena last night.
The former UK champion couldn't have asked for a better way to kick off the new season as he beat the Englishman 3-1 to pocket £33,000 and earn a place in the Champion of Champions event in November.
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Stephen Maguire is back in the winners' corner following his latest triumph
Credit: Getty
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He clinched the Championship League title in Leicester
It's his seventh career ranking title and first triumph since his success at the Tour Championship in 2020.
The Glasgow potter was "over the moon" to end his long trophy drought but couldn't resist sending a message to his doubters who feared he would NEVER win another title - if he didn't refuse to change his ways.
Maguire, 44, has become famous on the circuit for swapping cues during tournaments throughout his career.
It's a move that snooker legend Jimmy White has previously expressed his confusion over.
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He claimed back in November that Maguire will struggle to ever win another tournament unless he finally decides to stick with one cue.
After Maguire crashed out of the UK Championship last year at the first hurdle following a 6-0 defeat to Kyron Wilson, White said: "It has not worked, with these cues being changed all the time.
"When I was at my best, if someone had a new cue it took two or three months (to bed in).
"I know the cues are better now, but there is still the throw and the touch and feel. It takes a good couple of months to get used to that.
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"So all this changing cue business, you might win the odd match, but you are not going to win a tournament with a new cue."
But last night Maguire proved the icon and the rest of his doubters wrong with his win against O'Connor.
Stephen Maguire PUNCHES snooker table during high pressure clash against rival Shaun Murphy
And he had a message for everyone who told him that his 2020 Tour Championship win would be his last triumph.
He said: "People that say you can't use different cues are full of nonsense."
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On the win itself, Maguire continued: "Just relieved, it's been a long month and a half. Up and down that motorway all the time. Good to win in the end.
"Coming into today, eight players and two groups left, it felt more important because we knew someone was going to be going away with the trophy.
"To be the last man standing, so early in the season as well…listen, I'm over the moon.
"It gives me a start to get in the other tournaments, and a little bit of confidence. It's not the biggest tournament in the world, but I'll take it."
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