Snooker ace Stephen Maguire expressed his frustration at continually falling short against Ronnie O’Sullivan, a 13-year drought for him. The two clashed at the Xi’an Grand Prix in China recently, where O’Sullivan dominated the match with a resounding 5-0 victory, showcasing impressive breaks of 134, 70, 63, and 85.
Maguire acknowledged O’Sullivan’s exceptional performance, acknowledging his own distance from that level: “Ronnie was exceptional against me. He highlighted how much I need to improve. I’ve been putting in extra practice to up my game.”
Reflecting on his history with O’Sullivan, Maguire lamented, “He always brings his A-game against me. I wonder what I did to upset him years ago because he always performs at his peak when we face off. He’s truly a joy to watch.”
Despite O’Sullivan’s defeat in the quarter-finals by Gary Wilson, who emphasized the need to mentally prepare when playing against the snooker legend, the ultimate victory in the tournament went to Mark Williams, the oldest player to clinch a ranking event at 50.
Discussing his own ranking struggles and aspirations, Maguire, now ranked 25th globally, is determined to climb back into the top 16. Following a recent win against Luca Brecel, Maguire gears up to face Si Jiahui in the upcoming round of 32 at the Northern Ireland Open, acknowledging the tough competition and the importance of each match in his current ranking position.
While Maguire secured the Championship League title in July, he downplayed the achievement, viewing it as a stepping stone for future tournaments like the Grand Prix series. Additionally, Sky has announced a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the upcoming season, featuring over 1,400 live matches across various leagues, including a significant increase in live Premier League games.