Maguire shoots Preece down in flames
Stephen Maguire beat local Newport favourite Ian Preece 5-0 to book his place in the last 16 of the Welsh Open in Newport.
World Number 2, Stephen Maguire, wasted little time in despatching his former YPD (Young Players of Distinction) colleague Ian Preece 5-0.
Two crucial misses in the opener cost Preece dear as Maguire snatched the frame and went on to rattle in breaks of 55, 69 and 78 to lead 4-0 at the interval.
The Scot wasted no time in adding the fifth frame, aided by a run of 59, to send Preece on the short ten minute walk home.
"I played pretty solid" commented Maguire.
"You don't really know how you're playing until you get out on the match table.
"I'll be pleased to keep up this form and push on further in the tournament."
Preece, the former World Amateur Champion, was left to rue his missed chances.
"I missed a few easy balls that I should have potted, but I was a bit unlucky in the first frame. Realistically I had chances to have been 2-2.
"It's all very different at the venue. All new. The tables are different and it's a lot to get used to.
"The speed of the cloth is so fast, it knocked me out of my rhythm. They're great tables, but I need to try and get my practice table up to this sort of speed.
"I'm not going to be negative though. I'm happy to have been here, to have qualified. Now I will be trying to win a few matches in the World Championship."
