Stephen Maguire tells snooker's LIV-style breakaway chiefs his door is OPEN as exit whispers fill the Crucible

Stephen Maguire has declared come and get me to breakaway tour bosses - as he slammed the Crucible door shut on his old foe.

The pumped-up former UK champion, 42, reached an eighth Crucible quarter-final after he beat "chalk-gate" rival Shaun Murphy 13-9 in a fiery contest. Top stars are being sounded out over a LIV-style rival circuit, which is being backed by Far East financiers. It is understood six-figure offers are on the table for players to jump ship.

But it will be without Ronnie O'Sullivan, who is committed to the World Snooker Tour after signing a multi-million-pound three-year deal with Saudi Arabia to play official events, and Judd Trump. Former world champion Trump revealed he turned down an approach and would rather play for the prestige WST offers. But world No.28 Maguire, who has been disillusioned with qualifying venues having dropped down the rankings, said: "My ears are always open. I've not been approached but my door's always open.

"I'm only hearing it from other players but if somebody else is interested to come in then it's good. The numbers being thrown about are interesting. Why not? If there's a few years guaranteed, especially someone like me who is having to go to these qualifiers. I know it's my own fault but I don't enjoy it.

"If there's another opportunity there that doesn't mean Barnsley, Leicester then I'd seriously think about it. It's amazing how the watertight contract supposedly couldn't be changed for years and years... but all of a sudden bang... we got an email to say it changed just like that. Something's happening in the background."

After celebrations at the end of the second session, it was more sedate after Maguire wrapped up the match as he waved to former pro Marcus