Liang Wenbo Wins First Title

Liang Wenbo, China's now no. 27, recovered from 6-4 down to beat Stephen Maguire 7-6 to win the Beijing International Challenge, his first title as a professional.

His £50,000 winner's cheque was only £2,000 less than Peter Ebdon received for winning last season's China Open, a world ranking event.

Liang had won two of his three group matches and qualified for the semi-finals in first place. He comfortably saw off Mark Allen 5-1, aided by breaks of 73, 57 and 58, to reach the final. Maguire was unbeaten in his group and defeated Stephen Hendry 5-3 in their semi-final. It was Maguire's first tournament since he underwent laser surgery which has left his eyesight two points better than 20-20 vision.

"I really wish I had got my eyesight corrected earlier," he said. "I used to need glasses for driving and watching TV. Playing snooker I could never get used to the special glasses you needed to wear so I got by without anything which was not ideal. "Last season I felt my eyes strain under the tournament lights.

I was aware that my eyesight was not as clear as it could be and I had to concentrate harder to see the pockets. I visited Optical Express in Glasgow who recommended laser eye surgery and within two weeks, I had gone through the consultation and had my treatment done.

It was such a simple process and I'm delighted with my results. I have already changed the lenses in my old glasses to make sunglasses as I have no need for driving glasses anymore."

"I played well but credit to Liang because he played some good stuff in those last three frames and I didn't really have many chances," he said.

"It's nice to have got to a final but it would obviously have been better if I could have won the tournament and won myself £50,000."

The highest break, Liang's 138, was worth £2,500. He also compiled a run of 123 while Maguire had one of 103. The tournament was promoted by 110sport, who also manage most of the field. It was well attended, suggesting that China's love affair with snooker is not showing any immediate signs of abating.