STEPHEN Maguire was relieved to see the match out in style after beating a dangerous foe to reach the third round of the Betway UK Championship on Saturday.
Maguire dispatched talented Chinese cueman Zhao Xintong 6-2 at the York Barbican, making his first century of the tournament with a classy 128 in the final frame.
Zhao, 19, is considered one of snooker’s rising stars but the 35-year-old Glaswegian leaned on his 18 years of professional experience to record an impressive victory.
“It was 6-2 against a dangerous boy, so I’m happy,” explained Maguire. “It’s not even a banana skin because I think he’s a top player already.
“It’s just a matter of time before he starts winning tournaments and breaking into the top 16.
“It was nice to wrap it up with a century, my first century of the week. I’ve lost a few matches leading up to this where I’ve been in the lead and let it slip, so I was pleased to finish it off.
“There was a good crowd out there, it was busy and there was a nice wee atmosphere.”
Meanwhile, Wishaw’s John Higgins also booked his place in round three but was made to work hard by Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham before prevailing 6-4.
A back-and-forth encounter saw Saengkham make an impressive 131 break in frame five before Higgins responded with a majestic 126 of his own.
The Thai won frame seven with a re-spotted black but eventually the world No.4 clinched the win by calmly clearing the colours in frame ten.
There was less joy for Larkhall’s Graeme Dott, however, as the veteran suffered a 6-3 second-round defeat at the hands of Dominic Dale.
Dott snatched the opener but Dale was ruthless in response, reeling off five frames in a row – including making breaks of 119 and 70 – to move within one of victory.
The 2006 world champion compiled knocks of 57 and 83 to close the deficit to two but the Welshman got over the line in frame nine.
The 39-year-old has failed to get beyond the second round of any event this season and fears his career may be in terminal decline.
“The longer the season goes, the more confidence I’m losing,” said Dott. “I might be finished – I don’t know if I’m ever going to get back to playing the way I did.
“I’ve got no idea how to turn it round. It’s a double-edged sword – winning games gets you confidence and if you’re losing, you’re getting less confidence.
“I’m not getting any younger, so it’s getting tougher and tougher.”
Follow the UK Championship LIVE on Eurosport with Colin Murray, Jimmy White, Neal Foulds and Ronnie O’Sullivan.
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