Stephen Maguire suggested he is “just not good enough” right now to be ranked inside the world’s top-16 after he exited the China Open. The Scot was beaten 6-5 by veteran Fergal O’Brien in the last-64 in China, a result that means his hopes of an automatic place at the World Championships in the Crucible Theatre this month are now gone.
Maguire could have jumped into the top-16 had he engineered a run to the semi-finals in China, but defeat leaves him facing the qualifiers at the English Institute of Sport next week. Three gruelling matches stand between Maguire and a place in Sheffield and he has no complaints about his fate. Confidence appears to be low and he suggested he was never hopeful of making significant progress in the Far East. “I’m just not good enough to be in the top-16,” admitted Maguire. “I needed a good run here and I wasn’t expecting it.” Maguire will be joined in the Crucible qualifiers by Liang Wenbo, as he lost 6-5 to Welshman Duane Jones, who made a 75 in the deciding frame.
Maguire is 66/1 to be crowned world champion in south Yorkshire this season. There was better news for the home contingent as China’s top player Ding Junhui came from 3-1 and 4-3 down to beat Craig Steadman 6-4. Ding fired breaks of 67, 72 and 90 in the last three frames to complete his victory. Shaun Murphy, runner-up at the recent Ladbrokes Players Championship, suffered a surprise whitewash reverse against Chris Wakelin, losing 6-0, while world champion Mark Selby came through a tough four-hour battle against Scott Donaldson, eventually winning 6-4.