In the end , Obi-Wan uses Qui-Gon 's lightsaber to cut Darth Maul in half . Darth Maul appears in Star Wars Episode I : The Phantom Menace as the apprentice of Sith lord Darth Sidious , who sends him to capture Queen PadmÃ Amidala and eliminate the two Jedi , Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi . During the film 's climactic scene , he kills Qui-Gon during a lightsaber duel , and knocks Obi-Wan into a reactor chasm ; at the last minute , however , Obi-Wan uses the Force to propel himself out of the chasm , equipping himself with his master 's lightsaber .