Stephen Maguire has qualified for the UK Championship and has got a ‘wee bit of life back’ after hitting a professional low earlier this season.
The former world number two is fighting to regain former glories from his current spot at number 33 in the rankings.
Edging past Elliot Slessor to reach the Barbican will help in that quest, as will his preparation with former pro Chris Small, who is now working as a coach, in the build up to the UK Championship.
The 43-year-old says he played as badly as he has in 26 years as a professional in a recent 6-2 defeat to Haydon Pinhey and changes had to be made. Changes that weren’t his cue, for a change.
‘I was messing about with far too many cues. I think I’ve used 10 cues this season in tournaments. I wasn’t getting anywhere with it,’ Maguire said after a 6-5 win over Slessor.
‘I went to a qualifier in Sheffield and it’s the worst I’ve ever played as a professional. I couldn’t do anything, I was trying my hardest, but I couldn’t pot more than two balls on the spin.
‘It was either go home, disappear for a week and do what I usually do or make a move. So I phoned Chris up because I needed help, he fit me in and it’s been good.
‘I’ve knuckled down the last few weeks since Belfast. Working with Chris, trying something new technique-wise, which has given me something to concentrate on here. I think that has helped me.I’ve got a wee bit of life back.’
Asked if he’s still got the hunger to power back to the top 16, he said: ‘I think so. I still despise getting beat. I enjoy winning but I despise getting beat more. If that’s the reason that is ticking me over then maybe, it still hurts the same as 20 year ago.’
Another motivation for Maguire is to avoid the qualifying rounds played in front of meagre crowds and a long way from the high profile main stages of events.
‘I try hard not to slag these places, but it’s the pits, it really is,’ he said after downing Slessor at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester.
‘That deciding frame there should be butterflies there should be atmosphere, but there’s nothing out there.
‘I blame myself because I’m down there in the rankings. The suits will say it, and they have said, well get back up there and you don’t have to come here.’
The former UK champion is delighted to be back in York, though. having won the event in the city all the way back in 2004.
‘It’s brilliant,’ he said. ‘If you ask most of the players that have been there, it would be in their top two or three.
‘It’s nice to be there at Christmas time. I’ve got a few friends over there and stuff. I was going to head back up to Scotland tonight, but maybe I’ll head to York early. Who knows.’
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