Stephen Hendry v Stephen Macguire - Quarter Final

[LittleMissAlexa]

13-8 on fire maguire

[Odrl]

I've enjoyed Stephen Hendry's run here, just like I enjoyed it in 2008 and 2009. But since the circumstances are very similar, I don't see why it should finish any different this time...

The main thing for him in this tournament has been his scoring form. It's not that he is on O'Sullivan's level, but he is making a lot of decent breaks over 60 or 80, winning some frames in one visit, and perhaps just as important, winning most of them in no more than two visits. John Higgins was crap against him in the 2nd round, but we've seen Hendry struggling in that type of matches recently, a couple of real horror displays against an out-of-sorts Williams spring to mind. He did the business this time though, winning a session 7-1, taking full advantage when the chance came around. His potting from distance hasn't been all that impressive, and his safety game is always suspect these days, so he may find it difficult to get in. I don't think Maguire is likely to give him as many chances in the balls as Bingham and Higgins did.

Maguire hasn't really been tested so far, but perhaps that's down to his own good play, because he applied the necessary early pressure. Brecel and Perry couldn't stick with him, but Hendry is of course his toughest opponent on paper, so he should have a better chance. I think Maguire could possibly outplay Hendry tactically, but I don't think it's even particularly relevant, because he pretty much always plays the exact same game. He won't change it for anyone. If he is going to win this championship, he knows it's going to be with clinical scoring and without any mental breakdowns. Even if things aren't going his way early or in the middle of the match, he has to believe he is going to outplay Hendry over three sessions, he just needs to stick with it.

Like montoya10 says, Maguire is probably the "hungriest" player in the tournament. A while back he said he wanted to win the WC by the age of 30, otherwise he will be under too much pressure to win it later on. Well, the time has run out, and I think this has to be the year. The four big players born in the early 80s, Maguire, Robertson, Selby and Murphy have been very competitive in the last couple of seasons, each having a purple patch and a drought here and there, but I always thought they were of similar class, so it would be fitting if they all ended up with a World title to their name. Maguire is the oldest of the four, so he really needs to win it this year, or at least in the next two or three years. As I said before the tournament, he showed some uncharacteristic battling qualities against Ebdon in the China Open final. He seemed to be in a "defeated" mental state when he was 5-1 down, but he battled through it to eventually force the decider. At the time I thought this was a very good sign, because if he can avoid any sessions where he completely loses it, he is strong enough to compensate any minor crisis in his good sessions. I don't think a really determined Maguire is likely to lose a session 6-2 to Hendry, but he may very well win one. And in a three-session match, that has to make him the favourite.

I fear for Hendry in that respect, because he can really struggle when he has a bad session. He had it in 2008, he had it in 2009, and he is probably going to have it in 2012. You just can't play near to your best all of the time at the age of 43, and if you don't really have the tactical game to limit your losses, you can pay dearly for it. The last couple of matches between these two all went the way of Maguire as well, so he has the edge. I hope we see a good open match, with some high scoring here and there, but I think Maguire is likely to prevail around 13-8.

I would say "bring it on", but I will have to miss most of the first session. Looking forward to the rest of the match though.

[breakman16]

COME ON STEPHEN HENDRY!!! STEEEE-PHEN clapclapclap, STEEE-PHEN clapclapclap, STEEEE-PHEN clapclapclap!!

[PatBlock]

I feel Hendry has to be at least all square at the end of this first session to stand a chance.

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[breakman16]

I feel Hendry has to be at least all square at the end of this first session to stand a chance.

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agreed, or have a great second session to turn it round! Good start Maguire, Hendry his more usual self with medium to long potting!

[montoya10]

Tentative opening frame. Lots of mistakes.

[breakman16]

here we go, he's gotta be hard, his knuckles must be sore!!! lol

[attilahun]

Maguire will play alot better than Higgins did...so Hendry will have raise his game. I think Hendry performance against Higgins will no be enough to beat Maguire.

[peterpackage]

That shot Hendry took on was ridiculous

Not just pushing the boat out, sinking the bugger !

Hendry cannot just throw his cue at everything

good safety creating opportunities

[st_hendry]

hendry is playing really bad

[montoya10]

Maguire hasn't quite settled down on his own, but Hendry is playing awfully. If Maguire can get into his rhythm soon, danger for Hendry.

[breakman16]

That shot Hendry took on was ridiculous

Not just pushing the boat out, sinking the bugger !

Hendry cannot just throw his cue at everything

good safety creating opportunities

yeah no one can realistically take that red on and pot it, it's a very tough shot anyway, the chances of him potting that were one out of ten or so, hendry can do this sometimes, go into all out attack mode, he needs to play good safety and be patient otherwise this first session he'll find himself well behind!!

[Dr_Doctor]

ooh chance for Hendry to settle in!

[PatBlock]

If Hendry can't pinch a couple of frames while Mags is in this sort of form, then there's no hope.

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[Mr Snooker]

I Know Stephen Hendry as not beat Maguire for a long time in fact it's 5-2 in meetings Maguire, but this is Sheffiled and I hendry will come out on top in the end with his experience of playing at the the cruciable but I predict a close contest 13-10 Hendry I say