Name: Stephen Maguire

DOB: March 13th 1981

Nationality: Scottish

Turned Pro: 1998

Highest Ranking: #2 (2008/9)

Current Ranking: #2

Highest Break: 147×2 (2000 Regal Scottish Open & 2008 China Open)

Career Highlights: 2004 UK & European Open Champion, 2007 NI Trophy & 2008 China Open Champion

In short

Following a strong 2007/2008 season which brought him two ranking titles, Maguire is now firmly established as one of the strongest players in the field. A member of the WSA’s Young Players of Distinction scheme earlier in the decade, he has now won four world ranking events and has the potential to win many more including the biggest prize of all – the world title.

Having been a regular practice partner with Stephen Hendry in his early days, Maguire as you might expect is an excellent break-builder. With two 147’s in his career and over 100 centuries to his name he is deadly when in and around the black spot and not short of ability when it comes to a safety battle either.

The one question mark over Maguire however is undoubtedly his temperament as he is not afraid of expressing his frustration both in the arena and in his post-match interviews. During 2007/8 it looked as if he was maturing into a player who could channel his emotions the right way, but at times in 2008/9 we saw the old Maguire and this was reflected in his results.

Early career

Following an impressive amateur career culminating in victory in the 2000 IBSF World Championship with an 11-5 final win over England’s Luke Fisher, Maguire immediately began to make his mark on the main tour. Having qualified via the UK Tour the previous year, he won his first ten matches in the 2000 World Championship qualifying rounds before losing 10-9 to eventual semi-finalist Joe Swail. He did however make his first 147 beak at the Regal Scottish Open and entered the top 100 of the world rankings.

Breakthrough

Following a couple of quiet years it was to be the 2003/4 season where he would really make an impact however, claiming his first ranking event title at the European Open in Malta before qualifying for the World Championships at Sheffield. Despite a good showing against eventual winner Ronnie O’Sullivan he did not make it past the first round, though he did do enough to move into the top 32 of the rankings for the first time.

2004/5 was to be even better as following an appearance in the British Open final where he lost to fellow Scot John Higgins, he won the UK Championship, emphatically beating David Gray 10-1 in the final. The amount of ranking points awarded in the tournament being second only to the World Championship, this helped propel Maguire up to a career high third in the rankings at the end of the season.

Dip in form

Having reached this high point however, following a disappointing exit to Ronnie O’Sullivan in the first round of the 2005 World Championship where he led 9-7 at one stage, Maguire was to suffer an alarming drop in form. With only one quarter-final to his name in the following season, his ranking dropped to 9th, starting the next season in danger of falling out of the elite top 16 bracket.

Although 2006/7 was yielded no titles, he did manage to go on an impressive run at the Crucible where he reached the semi-finals of the 2007 World Championships. Despite leading eventual winner John Higgins 14-10 at the start of the final session though, he lost out 15-17.

Resurgence

He did not let his disappointment get him down however as having retained his place in the top 16, he pushed on in 2007/8 and won two world ranking events. First to come was the 2007 Northern Ireland Trophy where he beat Fergal O’Brien in the final, before he took the 2008 China Open later in the season. In the final he managed to beat old rival Shaun Murphy in a deciding frame in what was undoubtedly a sweet victory for the Scotsman who had already made his second 147 break in his semi-final match.

Although he lost in disappointing fashion to Joe Perry in the quarter-finals of the 2008 World Championships, his performances were enough to move him up to a career-best second in the rankings behind O’Sullivan.

2008/9

Having taken those two titles the previous season, many expected Stephen to then push on and win more in 2008/9. For whatever reason however, his campaign was blighted by inconsistency, brilliant performances in the early rounds being followed by below par showings in the next.

Though he suffered a couple of semi-final defeats in Shanghai and the UK Championship, by far the most disappointing result of all for him was his quarter-final exit at the hands of Neil Robertson in the 2009 World Championship. Maguire had said earlier on in the season that he was desperate to win the tournament during the next couple of seasons while he is at what should be his peak, but he did not play particularly well at any stage and he will have to raise his game if he is to go closer in 2010.

Website: http://www.stephenmaguire.net/

Tournament Victories:

Ranking Event wins (4)

Profile supplied by Matt Huart (http://prosnookerblog.com/)