Stephen Maguire snapped a five-year title drought by successful the 2025 Championship League Snooker title on Wednesday in Leicester.
The Scot’s triumph on the Mattioli Enviornment takes his profession tally of rating crowns to seven and comes 21 years after his maiden victory at such a degree.
Maguire hadn’t lifted silverware for the reason that 2020 Tour Championship, which was staged behind closed doorways because of the incoming COVID-19 pandemic.
Within the subsequent years, the previous world quantity two was solely an intermittent presence on the enterprise finish of tournaments whereas his inconsistent kind noticed him slip completely exterior the world’s prime 16.
The 44 year-old, who gained the 2004 UK Championship, proved that there was nonetheless life in his profession when he reached the Welsh Open ultimate in February.
Now that the Glaswegian has returned to the champion’s enclosure, it’ll be fascinating to see what sort of affect this has going ahead.
There weren’t many star names in attendance on the 2025/26 snooker season’s opening event, however that gained’t matter a lot to Maguire.
Successful breeds confidence, and as most will know, Maguire is a formidable and harmful proposition for anybody when his confidence is excessive.
The 2-time World Championship semi-finalist reached the third and ultimate stage of Championship League Snooker with a file of 5 wins and a single draw.
In his concluding round-robin group, Maguire thumped each Matthew Selt and Ben Mertens 3-0 with a hat-trick of half-century contributions.
Shedding his remaining recreation towards Pang Junxu proved to be immaterial as not one of the three gamers behind him within the league may catch him on six factors.
Advancing to the competitors’s general ultimate, Maguire confronted stern opposition in Joe O’Connor who had gained all 9 of his group fixtures.
In Stage Three, the Englishman lived as much as his tag because the favorite firstly of the day’s play by defeating Ricky Walden, Xu Si, and Tom Ford.
O’Connor, chasing a maiden rating title after two prior misses in finals, was placed on the again foot instantly when Maguire compiled a break of 85 to take the primary body of the ultimate.
In a dash race to 3, the latter subsequently moved to throughout the brink of glory by additionally successful the second body with a run of 61.
O’Connor stored issues fascinating by producing a 99 contribution within the third body, however the Leicester potter couldn’t pressure a decider.
Maguire obtained in first within the fourth and what proved to be the ultimate body, making a break of 89 to get his fingers on the trophy.
“I’m simply relieved. It has been a protracted occasion, Stephen Maguire, who first turned skilled again in 1998, stated afterwards.
“I’ve been up and down the motorway a number of instances however it’s a superb reward ultimately.”
“It felt totally different immediately, as a result of there have been eight gamers left and we knew somebody was going house with the trophy.
“To be the final man standing and to win a title this early within the season, I’m delighted.
“It provides me a head begin qualifying for the World Grand Prix and different occasions and provides me additional confidence.”
With £33,000 in complete earnings from the occasion, Maguire takes the entrance within the one-year rating lists which can result in qualification for profitable occasions later within the marketing campaign.
A return to the distinguished Champion of Champions invitational for the primary time since 2021 is one other reward for his early-campaign efforts.
Wednesday’s Outcomes
Group 1
Tom Ford 2-2 Xu Si
Joe O’Connor 3-1 Ricky Walden
Joe O’Connor 3-1 Xu Si
Tom Ford 2-2 Ricky Walden
Ricky Walden 3-0 Xu Si
Joe O’Connor 3-0 Tom Ford
Desk
1. Joe O’Connor – 9 factors
2. Ricky Walden – 4 factors
3. Tom Ford – 2 factors
4. Xu Si – 1 level
Group 2
Ben Mertens 3-0 Pang Junxu
Stephen Maguire 3-0 Matthew Selt
Stephen Maguire 3-0 Ben Mertens
Pang Junxu 2-2 Matthew Selt
Matthew Selt 2-2 Ben Mertens
Pang Junxu 3-1 Stephen Maguire
Desk
1. Stephen Maguire – 6 factors
2. Ben Mertens – 4 factors
3. Pang Junxu – 4 factors
4. Matthew Selt – 2 factors
Championship League Snooker Closing
Joe O’Connor 1-3 Stephen Maguire
Featured photograph credit score: WST
