Don't write off top players, warns Davis

Steve Davis has warned the top players cannot be written off in future despite the shocks this week at the Travis Perkins UK Championship in York.

Stephen Maguire’s victory over Steve Davis at the Travis Perkins UK Championship last night hardly registered on the snooker Richter scale of shocks in York this week.

But Maguire’s 9-2 third-round win means another member of snooker’s top 16 elite is out of contention for the top prize.

And Mark King’s 9-8 win over Alan McManus at 1.03am today leaves only two through to the quarter-finals – and none of the top eight.

Indeed, it’s the first time in UK Championship history there isn’t a top-eight ranked star in the quarters; three years ago all eight claimed their allotted places in the draw.

However, six-times World and UK champion Davis says it will be dangerous to write off the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Williams, John Higgins and Stephen Hendry.

“I don’t think they are anywhere near done and dusted,” insists the 47-year-old legend who won his first UK crown before Maguire was born.

“But this tournament, more than ever, has shown there may be another generation on the way up. I’ve seen lots of generations come and go,” adds Davis, a professional since 1978.

“Two years ago you might not have thought Stephen was going anywhere. But he has suddenly moved up a gear or two and I’m sure there will be others doing the same.”