Maguire eyes Glasgow glory

Maguire: Glasgow aim

For me, this season is just about winning more tournaments, I'm not even interested in playing well. If I play badly and win a tournament I'll be happy. I need to get a title soon.

Stephen Maguire
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Stephen Maguire rates winning the upcoming World Open on home soil as the next best thing to winning the World Championship at the Crucible.

Maguire will play in his native Glasgow next month when the newly-introduced World Open gets underway at the SECC from September 18 to 26.

Maguire has four ranking titles under his belt, including the UK Championship, but the last was in 2008 and he's determined to add to his collection of silverware this season.

The World Open features an innovative new format, with best-of-five matches up to the semi-finals, a random draw and the chance for amateurs to enter the qualifying rounds.

With so much time passing since his last win, Maguire is desperate to lift a trophy again, and doing it in Glasgow could only be bettered by winning at the Crucible.

Hometown

"With it being in Glasgow, I would love to win it - only winning the World Championship would be better," said Maguire.

"There's a lot of prize money and ranking points plus a new format.

"One of the greatest feelings in the world is picking up the trophy at the end of the week.

"I've not had it for over two years, so I've almost forgotten what it feels like. Last season my game was only 50 per cent, but I was still getting to the later stages of tournaments and I was still hard to beat.

"So if I can improve on that 50 per cent then there's a good chance I could win at least one title.

Winning

"For me, this season is just about winning more tournaments, I'm not even interested in playing well. If I play badly and win a tournament I'll be happy. I need to get a title soon."

The 29-year-old from Milton is excited about the new format introduced in the tournament, as part of Barry Hearn's shake-up of the sport.

"All the players are excited about the format," added Maguire. "We always say that anyone could win a tournament, but it's especially true in this one.

"With the short matches, you could get someone from the qualifiers coming through to win.

"Then again it's the same for the top boys, if one of us could hit a bit of form then we could go all the way."