A CALM demeanour is helping Stephen Maguire shine in York.

The Scotsman dug deep to come through a brilliant third round UK Championship encounter with Mark Davis 6-4 in a game which saw three centuries and four other breaks over 50.

Helped by back-to-back centuries of 125 and 127, Maguire looked to be coasting to victory at 4-1 but Davis replied with breaks of 128 and 77 to peg him back at 4-4.

But the 2004 UK champion replied with 55 and 84 to move into the last 16. It displayed a resolve the 34-year-old has not always shown in the past Maguire said if he continued to play well he could beat anyone.

"It was some match to be involved in," he said. "I thought I was coasting at 4-1. I was dominating the match and I didn't make any mistakes - it was just Mark Davis playing unbelievable snooker to go 4-4.

"I was just thinking 'Am I going to get another shot here?' with the way he was walking round the table. He had his tail up again and he looked good. I made a great break at 4-4 and that won me it."

On Davis' revival, he said: "The way the match was going, I just didn't see that coming. I didn't see that happening at all. It just shows you how good everybody is because he has played three great frames and I don't think I potted a ball. I didn't even see a red but I managed to dig out two good frames there."

Maguire added: "I have always been my own worst enemy because sometimes I beat myself up a little bit too much but I have been quite calm this week. I will go out and play my game and I fancy taking anyone if I play well."