Stephen Maguire Eyes Breakaway Tour as Crucible Victory Ignites Desire

Stephen Maguire has declared “come and get me” to breakaway tour bosses as he slammed the Crucible door shut on his old foe, Shaun Murphy. The former UK champion, 42, reached an eighth Crucible quarter-final after defeating Murphy 13-9 in a fiery contest.

Top stars in the snooker world are being approached for a potential rival circuit backed by Far East financiers, with six-figure offers on the table for players to make the switch. While Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump have opted to stay with the World Snooker Tour, Maguire has expressed interest in exploring new opportunities.

Maguire, currently ranked world No.28, expressed his openness to the idea of joining a breakaway tour, citing his dissatisfaction with having to go through qualifiers due to his ranking drop. He mentioned that the financial incentives and guaranteed years of play are intriguing factors for him to consider a move.

After his victory over Murphy, Maguire acknowledged the impact of his opponent’s fist pumps during the match, which fueled his competitive spirit. He reflected on the emotional rollercoaster of the game and how it affected his performance on the table.

Murphy, on the other hand, admitted his shortcomings in the match and praised Maguire’s solid performance. Despite the loss, Murphy appreciated the intensity brought by Maguire’s emotional display, adding that it added excitement to the game.

As the snooker world contemplates the possibility of a breakaway tour, Maguire’s declaration and performance at the Crucible have added an intriguing twist to the ongoing discussions in the sport. With Maguire’s willingness to explore new opportunities, the future of snooker could see some exciting developments on the horizon.