JORDAN Brown’s hopes of a second career ranking title are still alive after a 6-5 victory over Stephen Maguire in the quarter-finals of the International Championship in China.
The Antrim man, winner of the 2021 BetVictor Welsh Open, compiled a superb break of 57 to take the deciding frame after seeing a 5-2 lead wiped out by the Scot.
Earlier, Maguire led 2-1 with breaks of 54 and 80 replying to Brown’s 78 in the opening frame, but from there the world number 43 took control, winning four frames in a row, helped by breaks of 102 and 69, to move to within one frame of victory.
However, Maguire was determined to make him work for it and after a 94 reduced the deficit to 5-3, a 77 clearance, helped by an outrageous fluke on the last red, gave him frame nine too. He followed that with a 115 break to force the decider but although he did get the first chance, a loose safety allowed Brown in to compile his match-winning break.
The Antrim man will now face England’s Tom Ford, who beat Barry Hawkins 6-4, in Friday’s semi-final.
