Late replacement Stephen Maguire held his nerve to beat Mark Allen 10-6 in the final of Coral Tour Championship in Milton Keynes and banked a pay-cheque in excess of £250,000.
Maguire, who was only called up to the event after Ding Junhui withdrew due to travel restrictions, not only picked up the £150,000 first prize but also a £100,000 bonus for topping the Coral Tour rankings, and the £10,000 highest break prize.
Reflecting on his first ranking title win in seven years, Maguire said: "Honestly I was just thinking about the title. I was trying not to think about the money - it's a hell of a lot of money to win in one week.
"It's a massive tournament and I was gutted I wasn't in it at the start, so to get that call-up and to be part of the tournament was good enough. When I came down here winning the title hadn't entered my mind."
Three days after being branded an underachiever by Judd Trump prior to their semi-final clash, Maguire made a sluggish start and was fortunate to finish the afternoon session level at 4-4.
But a 139 total clearance got the evening session off to a flyer and stole the highest break prize from Trump, whom Maguire would also deny the £100,000 jackpot that the world number one was still in line to pocket had Allen won.
Reflecting on Trump's comments, Maguire shrugged: "I talk to maybe five or six players on the tour and count them as friends, and anyone else, I couldn't care less what they say.
"It doesn't spur me on, I just kind of laugh and I think to myself 'Why don't players just keep their mouths shut?' as it just puts extra pressure on themselves."
When you almost nick your friend's high break cheque.
— World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) June 26, 2020
Mark Allen records a timely ton, which could have become a 140 clearance!
Trails 9-6 #CoralSnookerSeries pic.twitter.com/JgaJ7gtuXz
The pair split the next two frames before Maguire took his chance to extend his lead to 7-5 after Allen jawed a red to the middle on a break of 36.
Maguire moved to the brink of victory at 9-5 but Allen, showing a glimpse of the form that had seen him hammer Mark Selby 9-2 in their semi-final, responded with a break of 107 - narrowly missing a highest break of his own.
In what turned out to be a marathon final frame, Maguire got the better of a lengthy safety exchange with a brave pink setting him up to complete by far the most lucrative win of his career.
"If I'd lost that frame I was fearing the worst," admitted Maguire. "I thought I'd won it three or four times, and I just couldn't get over the line. When I potted that pink, it was just relief."
