Being back in snooker limelight is a struggle - I'm the only player who loved empty venues during Covid

Playing in empty venues was a nightmare for most snooker stars - but not Stephen Maguire.

The Glasgow man has revealed that he loved talking to the table in front of just TV crews, saying that he "doesn't like people." Maguire made the comments after a shock Welsh Open victory against three time world champion Mark Williams in Llandudno, which saw the snooker star make an increasingly rare appearance on table one at a packed Venue Cymru in Llandudno and set up a clash with Sanderson Lam.

But when asked if he enjoyed the sparkle of playing on the main table with all the additional pressure, and glitz, that accompanies it Maguire said that couldn't appeal less to him. He told the BBC: "It’s tough, I don’t play on table one very often anymore. And when you get out there, I have forgotten what it’s like with the lights. When you’re playing qualifiers it’s darker, so this is totally different.

"I honestly feel like I’m not used to it anymore, so that’s good for me.” Maguire was then asked if he enjoyed being the star of the show on table one, and added: “I enjoyed Covid when nobody was there. I don’t like people. This is a tournament that has been good for me. Sanderson had a good result against Barry Hawkins, but they are all good players.

"Maybe back in 2006 you’d look at draws and think you could go out for a couple of pints and be alright. But not now. Every match is so tough. I’ll just watch football tonight and I’ve been in my bed by 9pm. I’m old now. Nothing about that win against Mark was comfortable, it was tough and I’d resigned myself at 2-2 that he was going to win. I’d thrown away so many chances. And most times the game doesn’t forgive you."

Maguire's display meanwhile earned praise from Masters winner Shaun