THE UK Championship is in danger of being “ruined” if changes aren’t made to the tournament structure, said Stephen Maguire.

The Scotsman, who won the event at the Barbican in 2004, said the atmosphere in the main arena was “dead” following his 6-2 first round victory over the amateur Sanderson Lam.

Joining the growing chorus of players, including 2011 UK winner Judd Trump, who have attacked the decision to bring all 128 players to the York centre, Maguire urged “all the guys who walk around with their suits on, put gel in their hair and go for fancy meals at night with nice bottles of wine” to “sit down and try to fix this tournament”.

The controversy is in danger of overshadowing the action on the table and the tournament itself, which has seen good crowds at such an early stage and is sold out this afternoon as Ronnie O’Sullivan starts his campaign.

Along with Trump, Ali Carter, Graeme Dott and, to a lesser extent, Mark Davis and Ricky Walden, have strongly criticised changes to this year’s competition structure, which has ended pre-qualification and has everyone starting at the first round stage.

While that has been a regular feature of Players’ Tour Championship events, it is the first time all 128 players have gone to a venue for a ranking event.

Maguire, who beat David Gray 10-1 to write his name on the trophy nine years ago, said the game is “finished” if changes are not made.

“I think the whole tournament has lost its edge and if we don’t change something then this tournament will be hard to get up for in the next couple of years,” he said.

“I don’t mind the four tables. I quite like watching other people playing but I know what he (Trump) means by a circus with 128 players trying to get hotel rooms and do this and that. Basically it doesn’t work.”

“This tournament is ruined,” he added. “If they don’t (look at the problems) then what is the point of us doing press because we are not being heard?

“Something has to change. Whoever has made the decision to do this is wrong. If they step up and say they are are wrong and change it then fair play to them. If it keeps going the way it is then this game is finished.”