The 43-year-old Scot, whose ranking peaked at world No. 2 in 2008, secured a 13-9 triumph over eighth seed Shaun Murphy on Sunday (April 28) in the last 16 at the Crucible. He’ll be aiming to reach the semis for the first time since 2012 when next facing David Gilbert in an eye-catching tie.
Maguire has struggled for consistent form over the last decade plus. Featuring interviews with current players, legends of the baize, pundits, TV presenters, World Snooker Tour management and other characters from behind the scenes, it really is the perfect addition to this year’s World Championship. And he didn’t shy away from that when speaking to Rob Walker post-match.
Walker said: “It hasn’t been a great season for you, but once again you’ve produced brilliant snooker right when it counts.” To which Maguire replied: “It’s not been a great 15 years, let’s be honest. Each season is getting faster and faster and faster.
It’s disappearing quickly now. “Results like this and being in the quarter-finals of the worlds again, I have to pat myself on the back and enjoy it.” Regarding the upcoming match, Maguire expressed, “Known each other for the best part of 30 years.
He’s a great player and I think he’s had not a great season by his standards, and I’m probably the same. We’ve sort of came into a good game at the right time.” Discussing the quarter-finals, he emphasized the pressure of this match, stating, “The quarter-finals, that’s the pressure match because, I’ve won a couple of quarter-finals, I’ve lost a couple of quarter-finals, it’s a round you don’t want to get beat in because that arena there just changes, it does become the best in the world with the one table.”
