SUPER Scot Stephen Maguire is being spurred on by the pressure in his York bid for snooker glory.

He swept aside world number nine Stephen Lee 9-4 at the Barbican Centre last night with a devastating display of break-building to march into tomorrow's Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship semi-final in which he'll be seeking to topple a King.

Flu victim Mark King, the world number 23 from Essex, sweated his way to an error-ridden 9-6 quarter-final victory over 1991 world and UK champion John Parrott.

After losing the first two frames Maguire grew in confidence to win the next six, including a superb 141 total clearance in the final frame of the afternoon.

The 23-year-old Glaswegian, 4-5 favourite to win the UK title on Sunday, went 7-2 ahead and then Lee found his potting rhythm with breaks of 89 and 113 but it was too late as Maguire finished the job with 91 and 77 salvos to triumph.

"I am feeling a bit of pressure reading the reports about how well I'm playing but it has spurred me on. I am not getting carried away but I just want to keep winning. I like the feeling."

King said that he caught the flu bug from Joe Perry, whose semi-final against David Gray is completed tonight.

In a scrappy match, with the highest break 69 by Parrott, there was never more than one frame between them until King took four in a row to claw over the winning line.

"It was a dream for me to end the first session 4-4 because I had blurred vision," he said.

"I had a rest and a shower before the evening session and felt better but I was only 85 or 90 per cent and I know I'll have to be 100 per cent on top of my game if I am to beat Maguire."

Last night's results

Quarter-finals: Mark King bt John Parrott 9-6, Stephen Maguire bt Stephen Lee 9-4.

Tonight's match

Semi-final (7pm, to a finish from this afternoon): Joe Perry v David Gray.

Tomorrow's match

Semi-final (12.30pm and 7pm): Mark King v Stephen Maguire.

Updated: 10:56 Friday, November 26, 2004