Mark Selby opened up about his true feelings on Stephen Maguire after edging their Welsh Open final 9-6, with the Scot pushing his opponent all the way in Llandudno
Tom Sunderland Sports Writer
09:57, 17 Feb 2025
Newly crowned Welsh Open-winner Mark Selby has dubbed it "a tragedy" that Stephen Maguire has been absent from ranking finals in recent years.
The north Wales decider marked Maguire's first ranked tournament final appearance since his 2020 Tour Championship victory. Despite being even after 12 frames on Sunday, 'On Fire' was eventually overhauled by a strong finish from his opponent.
Snooker star Selby, 41, savoured his second Welsh Open triumph and spoke of the "great memories" he has playing the event. But he also poured praise on Maguire, acknowledging the intense competition he provided throughout most of their battle.
"He's a class act, isn't he? Obviously for him to be struggling as much as he has for so long and not being in the back-end of tournaments... just an absolute tragedy, really," he told the WST (via the Daily Express). "It's great to see him back playing well [and] in the back-end of tournaments."
Selby also praised Maguire for a critical 71 clearance that levelled the match at six frames apiece, halting Selby's emerging dominance. But following that, the tide decidedly turned in Selby's favour.
After taking a swift 2-0 lead in the game, it was only in the final three frames that either player managed to open advantage of two frames or more. Selby couldn't hide his admiration for Maguire and praised his opponent while speaking to Eurosport.
"The thing about Stephen, it's great to see him back in finals again," he said. "Four years is way too long. He's a class act, and I'm one of his biggest fans. So, Steve, great to see you back playing well again, mate."
Maguire's quest for another ranking title remains unfulfilled, though reaching a final after almost five years suggests he's on track to overturn his luck. He can feel especially confident given his commendable display in Llandudno, reminding everyone he has what it takes to compete at the top.
On the flip side, Selby has reason to celebrate after bagging his second ranking trophy of the season, keeping alive the possibility of equalling his own personal best of three major titles in a single season. He hasn't managed that particular feat since the 2016/17 season.
Selby won't be getting much downtime, however, as he revealed he'll only have a single day at home before jetting off to China for the 2025 World Open in Yushan. Last year saw Judd Trump triumph over Ding Junhui to claim the title after the competition took a four-year hiatus, and now Selby has his sights set on winning the trophy for the first time.
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