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Maguire shouldered out

Image: Maguire: Injured

Stephen Maguire has been forced to pull out of the Shanghai Masters due to a shoulder injury.

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World number two was set to face Hawkins on Wednesday night

Stephen Maguire has been forced to pull out of the Shanghai Masters due to a shoulder injury. The world number two slipped in the shower last week but had still hoped to be fit in time to play in the season's first world ranking event. However, despite treatment from the Chinese football team's doctor as well as acupuncture, the Scot has been forced to withdraw. Maguire was due to face Barry Hawkins, who now receives a bye through to the next round, at the Grand Stage on Wednesday night. "I am really gutted at having travelled all this way just to go back home without hitting a ball," said a disappointed Maguire. "I honestly thought it was nothing serious - but it's obviously more serious than I first thought. "The injury has been diagnosed as internal bleeding in a muscle. And it's just too painful to play."

Rocket races through

On the table, Ronnie O'Sullivan made a fine start to his campaign as he whitewashed Graeme Dott 5-0 in their first round match. The world number one wrapped up his comprehensive victory in fine style with a 101 break sealing his serene progress into round two. Matthew Stevens has struggled in recent seasons whilst falling outside the elite top 16, but he enjoyed an encouraging first round win as he knocked in two centuries when beating Mark Allen. World Championship semi-finalist Allen is rising up the rankings, but found experienced Welshman Stevens too good as he won out 5-2, and he will face compatriot Ryan Day in the next round. A third Welshman went through as Mark Williams beat Joe Swail 5-2 in the final match of the day to finish. Elsewhere, Shaun Murphy made light work of Michael Holt as he won 5-1, while China's Ding Junhui delighted the home fans with a 5-2 win over Stephen Lee. Ali Carter finally held off a spirited challenge from Tian Pengfei. Carter was two frames down but fought back to win 5-3, while Jamie Cope sneaked a 5-4 success over Joe Perry.