Maguire fuming after second-round exit

Stephen Maguire suffered a disappointing defeat at the hands of Trowbridge potter Stephen Lee in this second round of the SAGA Insurance Masters at the Wembley Conference Centre.

The world number three was beaten 6-0 by Lee, the second year the Glaswegian potter has fallen having failed to make an impression in this event.

“Every match I turn up to these days I seem to get battered,” Maguire said.

“I came into the match confident, but from the word go I was very flat.

“I’ve just been told to keep practising. I’ve been looking forward to tournaments and enjoying practise, but I’ve just lost the plot. I just don’t know what the matter is.”

Lee opened with a 95 break, before snatching a scrappy second frame to go 2-0 ahead.

The third frame lasted over 40 minutes as Maguire battled back, only to close out the frame when Lee made a composed 20 clearance.

It was soon 4-0 courtesy of a 51 run, with Maguire facing a mountain to climb at the interval.

And, despite Maguire having the chance to reduce his arrears in the sixth frame when he trailed 5-0, the Milton right-hander could not claw his way back from the damage done in the opening four-frame session when the players resumed to conclude their match.

Lee won the fifth frame with a splendid 87 break and then won the last frame with 62-46 points.

“I’m over the moon with that performance,” said Lee.

“I took the game by the scruff of the neck and went for it. It’s a horrible place to play here when you’re lacking confidence, but I played really well.

“I was nearly in tears last year when I lost 6-1 to Stephen Hendry, but although Stephen Maguire is good player, I didn’t fear laying him.

“It’s a fine line between winning and losing, but I kept Stephen quiet.

“I fancied doing him 6-1, but 6-0 at any tournament, especially here, is a great result.”