Maguire ends silverware drought with Championship League victory
Maguire was the last man standing in Leicester (Credit: Matchroom Multi Sport)
Stephen Maguire claimed the first silverware of the 2025-26 season after beating Joe O’Connor 3-1 in the Championship League final.
The Maverick was the last man standing on Wednesday at the Mattioli Arena, where 128 players started out in the maiden event of the campaign 23 days ago.
Maguire ended his five-year wait for a ranking title and took his overall tally to seven, as he pocketed the top prize of ยฃ20,000 and secured a place in November’s Champion of Champions.
O’Connor, meanwhile, had won each of his nine round-robin matches throughout the tournament, but fell at the final hurdle as his wait for a first trophy goes on.
“I’m just relieved,” Maguire told Matchroom Multi-Sport. “It’s been a long month-and-a-half. It’s a good reward at the end.
“To be the last man standing so early on in the season – I’m over the moon.
“It gives me a head-start to get in the World Grand Prix and other tournaments, and a bit of confidence.”
๐ 2004 European Open
๐ 2004 UK Championship
๐ 2007 Northern Ireland Trophy
๐ 2008 China Open
๐ 2013 Welsh Open
๐ 2020 Tour Championship
๐ 2025 Championship League๐๐ก๐ 7๏ธโฃ๐ญ๐ก ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ซ ๐ #ChampionshipLeagueSnooker pic.twitter.com/2l1tHpHmxW
— Live Snooker (@Livesnooker) July 23, 2025
Maguire – appearing in his 16th ranking final after sealing top spot in his group with a match to spare – quickly settled into his rhythm with a break of 85 to draw first blood.
O’Connor – boasting a 100 per cent record this season with 11 straight victories – was in first in the second frame, building a 32-0 lead. However, his opponent’s counter 61 eventually proved enough to double the lead.
The former Scottish Open finalist had demonstrated true grit and determination throughout the day, notably recovering from needing four snookers during frame three of his group win over Xu Si.
O’Connor threatened another spirited turnaround with a 99 halving the deficit and keeping the final alive.
However, Maguire was not to be denied, a cool 89 getting him over the line and back into the winners’ circle.
๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐๐
He arrives on day 1๏ธโฃ for the first match of the tournament ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐
He heads back to Scotland with the trophy ๐ #ChampionshipLeagueSnooker pic.twitter.com/OaHmw3k1a3— Live Snooker (@Livesnooker) July 23, 2025
Championship League Snooker 2025 | Stage Three Results
Wednesday July 23
12pm-9pm
Tom Ford 2-2 Xu Si (Group 1)
Pang Junxu 0-3 Ben Mertens (Group 2)
Joe O’Connor 3-1 Ricky Walden (Group 1)
Stephen Maguire 3-0 Matthew Selt (Group 2)
Joe O’Connor 3-1 Xu Si (Group 1)
Stephen Maguire 3-0 Ben Mertens (Group 2)
Tom Ford 2-2 Ricky Walden (Group 1)
Pang Junxu 2-2 Matthew Selt (Group 2)
Ricky Walden 3-0 Xu Si (Group 1)
Matthew Selt 2-2 Ben Mertens (Group 2)
Tom Ford 0-3 Joe O’Connor (Group 1)
Pang Junxu 3-1 Stephen Maguire (Group 2)
Winners’ Group 1 Table
| Pos | Player | P | W | D | L | FW | FL | FD | HB | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe O’Connor | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 69 | 9 |
| 2 | Ricky Walden | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 122 | 4 |
| 3 | Tom Ford | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 120 | 2 |
| 4 | Xu Si | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 79 | 1 |
Winners’ Group 2 Table
| Pos | Player | P | W | D | L | FW | FL | FD | HB | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stephen Maguire | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 78 | 6 |
| 2 | Ben Mertens | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 115 | 4 |
| 3 | Pang Junxu | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 136 | 4 |
| 4 | Matthew Selt | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 97 | 2 |
Final
Joe O’Connor 1-3 Stephen Maguire