O'Sullivan crashes out
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Published 14/11/2004 at 08:05 GMT
Preston Grand Prix champion and world number one Ronnie O'Sullivan has crashed out of the British Open at the semi-final stage, beaten 6-1 by on form Stephan Maguire. The Scottish player will meet compatriot John Higgins - a 6-0 victor of Shaun Murphy - in the final.
O'Sullivan had been expected to reach his third consecutive final, but the Englishman soon realised that he was up against it when Maguire opened with two century breaks, making him the first player ever to score five consecutive 100+ scores, before closing out the match with two successive 71 scores.
"I've never seen anything like that on a snooker table before," said O'Sullivan. "Stephen Hendry and John Higgins are the best players I've seen but Stephen seems to have a little bit more.
"He has flair and that natural cue action where he can make things happen. He's a great player, probably the best in the world at the moment."
SIZE DOES MATTER!
Maguire will meet compatriot John Higgins in Saturday's final following a welcome return to form by the Scot. The former world champion has reacted to his poor recent form by taking in some advice from the legendary Steve Davis, soon realising that his cue was too long.
"Steve Davis said on television that he thought my action was far too long," said Higgins. "I ignored it at first but I realised that my cue was longer than it needed to be. It was 58 inches and when I was winning all my titles it was 57 and a quarter.
"Cue actions change over the years and I was out of control during matches, missing easy balls," he explained. "Before the tournament I had the cue altered. It's helped my mindset and eradicated some of my misses.
"I had to do something to help me compete and it's certainly worked this week."
Follow Saturday's final LIVE on Eurosport TV from 18:00 CET - 17:00 UK Time
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement