Stephen Maguire overcame Shaun Murphy in their clash at the World Snooker Championship earlier today, with the winner using an overzealous celebration from his opponent to help fire himself to victory in their second round clash.
The clip that went viral yesterday showed Murphy celebrating after winning the first frame of the last-16 clash with a fist bump, which did not go unnoticed by his opponent.
Later on in the match, Maguire would take the lead and produce a fist bump of his own, punching the table before turning to crowd to celebrate.
Shaun Murphy: "I do the best fist"
Stephen Maguire: "Hold my beer!" #snooker #ilovesnooker pic.twitter.com/ZVkTKxisi9— I ❤️ Snooker (@ILoveSnooker_) April 27, 2024
Snooker: Stephen Maguire uses Murphy celebration as motivation
Speaking after his win, Stephen Maguire talked about how Murphy should've known better than to wind him up at a relatively early stage in their match.
It did [fire me up], to be honest with you he made a mistake there because he knows me well enough that I get on myself.
The frame he won, the first frame, he should never have won it. I was sitting there hating myself and calling myself every name under the sun.
Then the fist pump came out and I forgot about all that. I just thought, “you’re having it.” All my attention went on him then. He made a mistake then.
Stephen Maguire then claimed he had tried to keep his cool after getting back into the game but couldn't keep his emotions in tact.
I was trying not to show anything out there. It was building up and building up. I’d sort of resigned to losing that frame, so when the chance came I made a nice wee four-ball clearance and something happened. I’m kind of embarrassed about it, but it is what it is.
Usually I wait five minutes, get to the dressing room and let it out. But it’s a cauldron out there, you end up getting involved with the crowd and it all came out.
Apart from that when I lost the plot I thought I held it in pretty well.
This is not the first occasion that this pair have clashed on the big stage, being part of a grudge that goes back two decades after an infamous incident involving chalk back in 2004.
Clearly, that rivalry has not lessened over the last 20 years.
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