Perry edges out Maguire to advance to last four
An epic Snooker World Championship quarter final at Sheffield's Crucible between Joe Perry and Stephen Maguire rumbled on late into Wednesday evening, with Perry edging out his opponent 13-12. The momentum of the tie swung all evening, and there were 50-plus breaks in all but two of the frames.
With the scores tied at 12-all, the match went to a decider and Perry started with a break of 33.
Maguire then missed two chances and Perry sealed the win with a 54 break.
Perry will now play Ali Carter, who claimed a 147 maximum break in his quarter-final victory over Peter Ebdon.
Perry, currently ranked as world No18, said: "I'm gradually fulfilling all my ambitions. When you turn professional you want to play at The Crucible, then reach the one-table stage, then reach the final and then win it. I am absolutely thrilled.
"I was trying to keep my cool in the last frame. I was nervous, but I've been a lot more nervous than that before and I was surprised at how calm I was when my chance came along.
"There is no such thing as an easy draw but I knew I had a struggling Graeme Dott in the first round and then either Steve Davis or Stuart Bingham in the second. I knew if I could find some form anything could happen."
The 27-year-old Maguire, a semi-finalist last year, admitted he thought he would ease past Perry. He said: "I never gave him the respect he deserves.
"I played him last year and slaughtered him to be honest and I thought I was going to do it again.
"There was something missing, I don't know if I was mentally in that match. The final frame was the first bit of pressure I have been under and it was like 'Where did that come from?' I never handled it."
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