UK Snooker Championship: York kindles Maguire fire (From York Press)

UK Snooker Championship: York kindles Maguire fire

10:20am Thursday 8th December 2011 in Snooker By Steve Carroll, Sports reporter

STEPHEN MAGUIRE says he cannot understand why the williamhill.com UK Championship ever left York – as he hopes to extend his stay in the city by beating Judd Trump today.

The Scotsman, who won the title in York seven years ago, has a clear affinity for the venue, and has rediscovered his form ahead of a quarter-final match-up against snooker’s brightest new star.

After crushing Stephen Hendry 6-3 in round one, Maguire saw off defending champion John Higgins 6-4 in the last 16 on Tuesday, and described the York Barbican as “different class”.

He said: “The venue’s great, the city’s great.

“They are getting the crowds in. I can’t believe we left this place five years ago.”

Maguire will need to be at his best to beat Trump, who knocked out Ronnie O’Sullivan in a final-frame thriller to set up this afternoon’s intriguing quarter-final clash.

But the world number nine, who declared that the “tournament begins now”, is revelling in the tag of underdog.

“I watched a bit of Judd’s game (against O’Sullivan),” he said. “He got out of jail a little bit.

“I think Ronnie could have won 6-4 but Judd’s playing well just now and he should be favourite to beat me. I will be the underdog.

“I don’t think he’s beaten me. I think we’ve played a few times and I don’t think he’s beaten me – yet.

"It’s the quarter-finals and the tournament begins now.”