Match Reports from the 888.com World Snooker Championship
Maguire Makes Move
Stephen Maguire 11 – 5 Joe Swail
Stephen Maguire won the first two sessions against Joe Swail to build a formidable lead.
Swail began the match in the best possible fashion, with a century in the first frame. He added the next to go 2-0 ahead, but from then on very little went right for him as his control of the cue ball deserted him.
Maguire won every remaining frame in the session to lead 6-2 at the break. The Scot played well without really dominating, borne out by having just one break over 50.
Maguire kept chipping away in the second session, scoring well but never enough to win the frame in a single visit. Swail should have won the first frame when play restarted, but he was forced to watch as Maguire came from behind to take his seventh, and then eighth in a row to lead 8-2.
Finally the world number 30 got some extended time at the table, and breaks of 48, 73 and 75 got him back into contention at 8-5. The Outlaw almost won his fourth in a row with some excellent safety in the 14th frame, but Maguire held firm.
A strong finish from Swail would have left the match in the balance, but Maguire won the next two frames to lead 11-5 overnight.
After demolishing Joe Perry in round one, the world number nine needs only two more frames to make his first world quarter-final. With Anthony Hamilton and Ian McCulloch to play in the last eight, Maguire has an opportunity to make a real impression.
By David Pritchard
