MAGUIRE BRACED FOR 'PHONEY WAR'

Stephen Maguire knows he will have to deal with an enthusiastic crowd as well as snooker's great and good as he attempts to complete a Chinese double at the Shanghai Masters.

Maguire won the China Open in Beijing last season and rose to no.2 in the world rankings behind Ronnie O’Sullivan.

But the 27 year-old from Glasgow admits he will have to shut out the behaviour of the Chinese crowd, who are renowned for taking photographs and using their mobile phones during matches.

“It can be like playing in a pub,” Maguire said. “The crowd are nuts but you have to look at it the right way.

“They are so enthusiastic and just want photos of the players. They’re not trying to put you off but their mobile phones seem to go off every two seconds.

“I would prefer to be playing at home. It’s the journey I don’t like but there are six or seven Chinese players on the tour and they have to come over to the UK to play.

“I certainly wouldn’t complain about going to China. The more tournaments the merrier.”

Maguire starts out against Kent’s Barry Hawkins as the game’s leading players chase a top prize of £52,000.

The first two live TV matches on Eursport on Monday are Jimmy White v Xiao Guodong (8am UK time) and Liang Wenbo v Atthasit Mahitthi (12.45pm UK time).