Stephen Maguire gained revenge over World Champion Kyren Wilson with a 4-2 win at the BetVictor Scottish Open in Edinburgh.
Maguire succumbed to a 6-0 whitewash defeat at the hands of Wilson at the recent Victorian Plumbing UK Championship. The Glaswegian was despondent after that result, but vowed to continue his work with newly acquired coach, Chris Small.
Alongside Small, 2004 UK Champion Maguire has gone back to basics and rebuilt his game from the very fundamentals of things like stance. That work appeared to bear fruit today against world number two Wilson.
Breaks of 79, 67, 71 and 128 from Maguire saw him secure this afternoon’s victory and set up a last 16 meeting with Xiao Guodong, who beat Jak Jones 4-3. After today’s win, Maguire admitted that victory this week would mean a great deal to him.
Maguire said: “I’m miles away at the moment, but if I win in Scotland it will be the biggest tournament I’ve ever won. It would be ahead of the UK Championship or the Tour Championship. This would top those, because I don’t settle here. I’m not used to people shouting come on Stephen. It would be crazy to win here.”
John Higgins failed to follow up Maguire's win with another Scottish victory, bowing out 4-3 in a defeat to the in form Barry Hawkins.
Englishman Hawkins reached the final of the recent Victorian Plumbing UK Championship, losing out in a pulsating clash with Judd Trump 10-8. He'll be aiming to go one step further and take home the title this week. Next up it's Wu Yize in the last 16.
World number five Mark Allen progressed 4-2 after a high quality encounter with four-time ranking event winner Ryan Day.
Runs of 104, 127, 78 and 103 helped him to victory this afternoon. He now faces a blockbuster encounter with Jack Lisowski, who was a 4-0 winner against Si Jiahui.
"That was good snooker there and it needed to be against Ryan as he looked like he was playing well too. I can't play much better than that," said 38-year-old Allen.
"It is about trying to play like that when there is pressure on. That is when I play my best snooker. It is just finding that balance. I'm struggling with that at the minute. Some days it is easy and some days it feels like the hardest game in the world."
Lei Peifan prevailed 4-3 in a close encounter with 2005 World Champion Shaun Murphy, while 2015 Crucible king Stuart Bingham beat David Lilley 4-2. They now face each other in the last 16.
Ding Junhui was a 4-2 victor over Jackson Page to set up a last 16 clash with 2023 World Champion Luca Brecel, who beat Zhou Yuelong 4-1.
Noppon Saengkham was the last player to make it through with a fine 4-2 win over Mark Selby. He nearly got over the line in style, missing the final pink for a maximum break to end his run on 134. He now faces Ali Carter, who beat Robbie Williams 4-3.