Stephen Maguire is relishing the chance to take on Ronnie O’Sullivan and is targeting victory in the semi-finals of the UK Championship. The duo will meet in York on Saturday after Maguire took care of English veteran Joe Perry 6-3 in their quarter-final and O’Sullivan downed 36-year-old ‘Pinner Potter’ Martin Gould by the same score line.
Maguire is looking for his second title at the Barbican after thrashing David Gray 10-1 to lift the trophy back in 2004 while he was runner-up to ‘The Rocket’ in 2007. The Glaswegian was tipped by O’Sullivan for big things after he won the title 13 years ago but has failed to fulfil his undoubted potential, with only three more major titles on his CV. Conversely, the Essex cue-man has won practically everything the sport has to offer and has five world titles under his belt.
Dafabet make the Scot a 14/5 shot to progress to the final, with O’Sullivan on offer at 1/4 but Maguire has made it clear he is not there just to make up the numbers even though he admires his opponent’s style on the green baize. “I hope it’s a great match but I’m here to win and if I lose I’ll be devastated,” he said. “He’s one of the only players I’d pay money to watch, the way he plays, and it’s always a special occasion playing him. I think he’s playing better now than he’s ever done.” O’Sullivan will have the backing of a vociferous crowd in York but Maguire does not feel that it always works to a player’s advantage. “They all shout for him and I wouldn’t like to be in his position where you get ‘Come on Ronnie’ every single time he’s at the table,” he added.
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