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| Stephen Maguire is the 2013 Welsh Open Champion following a 9-8 win over Stuart Bingham |
Stephen Maguire secured his first major ranking title for
almost five years when he defeated Stuart Bingham after a final frame decider
to scoop the 2013 Bet Victor Welsh Open. The last notable tournament that
Maguire lifted was the 2008 China Open and has finished runner-up in three
other tournaments since but a strong finish to the match saw him win the
£50,000 winners’ prize.
The Scot started the match well and took the opening two frames
with breaks of 71 and 62. Bingham hit back with a break of 56 to take the third
but Maguire ensured he had the edge at the interval after knocking in an
impressive 114 break.
Bingham pulled another back by winning frame five with a run
of 79 but Maguire restored his two-frame cushion with the final’s second
century break, a 110. As the first session went on, Bingham gained momentum and
he closed the gap again by winning frame seven with a top break of 78 and also
helped his cause going into the evening session level by winning the eighth
frame.
And the Essex man went in front for the first time in the
match by taking the evening’s opening frame with a 73 break although Maguire
hit back with a 71 to take the next. However, Bingham began to pull away, first
knocking in a 118 break in the 11th and also took the final frame
before the interval to lead 7-5.
The momentum switched hands after the break though as Maguire
won three frames on the bounce to re-take the lead. He took frame 13 on the
black before edging a close 14th whilst a break of 77 put him 8-7
up. The match deservedly went the distance though as Bingham knocked in a 58
break to make it 8-8 in a re-racked frame 16. The decider started very tensely
but after a bout of safety play, Maguire was in and made an excellent break of
82 to secure the title.
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