Two-time Welsh Open champion Mark Selby has said it’s “a tragedy” that Glasgow’s Stephen Maguire hasn’t been more prominent in ranking finals lately.
After a closely contested final on Sunday – where the match was tied after 12 frames – Selby ultimately pulled ahead to secure victory. Maguire’s appearance in the decider in north Wales marked his first in a ranking event since his 2020 Tour Championship triumph.
Elated with his Welsh Open success, four-time world snooker champion Selby shared with Eurosport the “great memories” he associates with the tournament. He also gave a shout out to Maguire for the intense competition he provided throughout their encounter.
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Speaking to the WST (via the Daily Express) after his latest trophy triumph, Selby said: “He’s a class act, isn’t he? Obviously, for him to be struggling as much as he has for so long and not being in the back-end of tournaments. Just an absolute tragedy, really. It’s great to see him back playing well [and] in the back-end of tournaments.”
The 41-year-old praised Maguire’s critical 71 clearance that levelled the game at six frames all, just as Selby appeared to be gaining ground. Nonetheless, Selby gained the upper hand again shortly after.
After taking an early 2-0 lead, it was only in the last three frames that either player gained an advantage of two frames or more. And following the match, Selby shared high praise for his competitor.
“The thing about Stephen, it’s great to see him back in finals again,” Selby told Eurosport. “Four years is way too long. He’s a class act, and I’m one of his biggest fans. So, Steve, great to see you back playing well again, mate.”
However, the Welsh Open victor didn’t shy away from critiquing himself despite the triumph, joking: “I think my daughter could have potted that red I missed at 6-5.”
Although Maguire hasn’t claimed a ranking title in recent years, breaking his final drought is a substantial leap in the right direction. And his performance in Llandudno has helped solidify his status among the top competitors in snooker.
Selby, on the other hand, is savouring his second-ranking title of this season. With more tournaments ahead, he’s well-positioned to potentially equal his own record by winning three major titles in one season for the first time since the 2016/17 campaign.
‘The Jester from Leicester’ revealed he’ll have just one day at home before jetting off to China for the 2025 World Open in Yushan. Judd Trump triumphed over Ding Junhui in 2024 to claim the title after the tournament took a four-year break.