Match Reports from the 888.com World Snooker Championship
Outlaw Out
Stephen Maguire 13 – 8 Joe Swail
Stephen Maguire fought off a spirited challenge from Joe Swail to move into the last eight for the first time in his career.
After playing well in the opening two sessions, the Scot led 11-5, leaving Swail needing to win eight of the remaining nine frames to progress.
The man from Northern Ireland is no stranger to Crucible comebacks, and has twice won the last five frames to go through 13-12. He began the session in a way that suggested he was capable of another improbable comeback.
Breaks of 82, 72 and 77 closed the gap to three frames at 11-8.
The 20th frame was crucial. Swail had a chance to take his fourth consecutive frame, but a miss let in Maguire. The Scot, who despite losing three frames in the session had done little wrong, took the opportunity to release some of the mounting pressure by winning the frame with a break of 61.
That made it 12-8, and ended Swail’s brave resistance. Maguire was not in the mood to hang around after the interval, and won his 13th frame with a 62.
After thrashing Joe Perry in round one, this was another good win for Maguire. He goes on to play Anthony Hamilton in the quarter-finals, a match both players will believe they can win.
By David Pritchard
