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23 April 2007

The Snooker World Championship is running, some of the first-round matches are over, some of them are still in progress.

Matthew Stevens began his opening match on Saturday, April 21 and finished it on Sunday. His opponent was Joe Delaney, a 34-year-old Dubliner who was the oldest Crucible debutant in 20 years, rarely troubled Stevens, who never lost a first round game at the Crucible in ten appearances.

The Welshman did most of the damage in the first session, building a 7-2 lead, and he needed just 39 minutes to finish the tie, closing with a break of 65.

However, the 29-year-old from Carmarthen must progress further in the tournament if he is to retain the top 16 ranking he has held since 1999. Stevens has slipped to 24th after a lean time over the past two seasons, but hopes that another good run at snooker's premier event will help him stay among the elite.

After-match comments.

Joe Delaney:

Nothing went right for me at all in the match. It was a disaster really and I didn't really put him under any pressure.

I was 7-2 down going into tonight and I needed to win the first frame but when I didn't win the first frame, I was gone. I had to win the first two to have any chance. After that, I couldn't pot a ball. He missed a few but I couldn't do anything about it.

I got a great buzz from The Crucible, and fair play to all my friends and family for coming over to support me - it was just a pity I didn't play any better. I was probably enjoying it a bit too much myself. If I'm fortunate to qualify again, I'll probably treat it a bit differently. Even though I lost I still enjoyed it.

Matthew played well but he could have played better. I'm actually delighted to be here because I should have gone out in the first qualifying round when I was 6-1 down but somehow managed to win. But I've had a great time, it's been a great atmosphere but I'll be hitting the bar early tonight.

I'm off to Honolulu with Caroline my girlfriend for a holiday and just relax for a couple of weeks before the qualifiers start again in June.

Matthew Stevens:

The first round matches are horrible - it doesn';t matter how well or badly you play. You just want to get to 10. I played very average, I felt a lot of pressure but I always do for first round games. You don't feel as though you're in the tournament until the second or third round.

My form has been pretty good - I've been playing very well in practice - that's all you can do. I tried to keep it pretty tight to start, keep Joe under pressure. He was always playing catch-up which is never easy. I think it was the first time Joe has played live on telly so it was extra hard for him. It's great experience for him. He's a hell of a nice guy, and I'17;m just glad he's experienced it. I';ve known him since I was 10 but I'm delighted to have won.

Based on the www.worldsnooker.com materials

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28 March 2007

The first round of the Honghe Industrial 2007 China Open tournament was successful for the Welsh potter Matthew Stevens. His opening match was with the 18 Year-old Xiao Guodong (National China Championship finalist). Stevens, coming into this event at a lowly 25th on the provisional World rankings, had to perform really well to keep the hope to regain his place in the top-16. The Welshman did everything he could: he led 3-0 lead with breaks of 108, 51, and 68, then took a scrappy fourth frame 89-50 and he ran out 93-10 in the last frame.

"I didn't know what to expect playing a Chinese player, but to be fair I played well today. I couldn't have asked for a better start," said Stevens. - I'd like to do well here and hopefully find a bit of form."

Based on the www.worldsnooker.com materials

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March 2007

Please take my apologies for long absence of the updates. However, we have some news for your.

First, the new "Video" section is going to be added. There you will find some video montages created by my friends and some fragments of Matthew's best performances.

Second, a new article was added, that is telling about the two best friends in snooker, Matthew Stevens and Paul Hunter. It was very difficult to get back to this theme, as our pain for Paul's death is still strong and is not supposed to go away.

Besides, we will go on informing you about Matthew's performance in snooker.

Though the season is not over yet, only two ranking tournaments are left, the China Open and the Worlds, their results will mean everything for many players. It's a pity to say, but Stevens will have to do his really best to keep his place in the Top-16. The snooker rankings are based on the two-seasons results and though this 2006-2007 season seemed to be better than the previous one, his unsuccessful performance in 2005-2006 affected his ranking badly.

Matthew Stevens started his new season as number 14 in the official two-years rankings and as the 28th in the provisional rankings (it is based on the results of one season only and the new ranking points collected during the current season are added to that number defining in such a way the total amount).

In 2006-2007 the Welshman took 1900 points for the Northern Ireland Trophy and 2,850 for Maplin UK Championship that let him rise to the 21st provisional place with not a big gap in points to the top-16. However, he could not improve his position with the next two ranking tournaments, the Malta Cup and the Welsh Open losing both his opening matches and gathering only a modest amount of 700 points for each of the tournament.

At Malta he lost to his friend and practice partner Ryan Day 5-3 and at his home tournament the Welsh Open he lost 5-1 to Mark Selby. This last tournament was very difficult to Matthew Stevens as he was clearly out of sorts, affected by flu.

With better performances of the other players Stevens's rankings dropped again and he is now provisionally 25th. He needs to perform well in China and in Sheffild to stay among the Top-16. Or he'll have to remember his youth age and go through the qualification rounds.

But the 29-year-old from Carmarthen is confident is can recapture the form which gave him the Masters and UK titles as well as five Crucible semi-finals and two finals since 2000. "I'm hitting the ball a lot better and I don't think it will be long before I'm winning tournaments again. I'm not looking too closely at the rankings, I just want to get some good results and then my place in the rankings will follow."

Based on the www.worldsnooker.com materials

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Welsh Open

February 2007

And following his disappointing 5-1 defeat by Leicester's Mark Selby at the Newport Centre, he took a pot-shot at the organisers of this year's J 225,000 event.

The Carmarthen potter has been suffering from the flu for the past week and so asked for permission not to wear his mandatory bow tie during his best-of-nine frame second-round clash. However, organisers refused to grant the Welshman special dispensation - and he was not happy.

"I'm disappointed because certain people are allowed to take their bow ties off - and I wasn't, - he said. - It's the first time in my 10-year career that I've asked not to wear a bow tie, but it was a no-go I'm afraid. It's upsetting. I've got the flu and I've got bad ears, my balance has been all over the place. I've been ill for a while and at times I couldn't really see anything, but I was told I couldn't take my bow tie off. Mark played well, so I'm not making excuses, but it doesn't help.

I went to the doctors a couple of days ago to get a doctor's note so I wouldn't have to wear a bow tie, but I was told [by the organisers] that I wouldn't be allowed to not wear one!"

Based on the www.sportinglife.com materials

18 January 2007

SAGA Master 2007

The most prestigious invitational event, the Masters Tournament, is already on run and Matthew Stevens won his first match at Wembley in seven years to send crowd favourite Jimmy White out of the SAGA Insurance Masters.

The Welshman won the event in 2000 but subsequently suffered a series of first-round exits, a sequence he brought to an end with a comprehensive 6-1 victory over the Whirlwind.

"I'm in it to win, there's no point in coming otherwise, - said 29-year-old Stevens. - It's been a while since I've won a match here, now I have I've a good chance of winning it.

"I came up on Thursday, practising with Barry Hawkins at his club and staying at his house. I feel good.

"It will be a great occasion against Stephen, he's won this tournament so many times. It will be the first time I've played him here and I'm really looking forward to it.

As for White, Stevens added: "Jimmy's had a tremendous career and still has a lot to give the game".

Matthew Stevens then almost created a piece of Masters history last night when he came within a whisker of pulling off the biggest comeback the tournament has ever seen.

Then he almost created a piece of Masters history when he came within a whisker of pulling off the biggest comeback the tournament has ever seen.Stevens had trailed six-time winner Stephen Hendry 5-0, but two centuries and a clutch of other fluent breaks saw him claw his way back to 5-5, only for Hendry to claim victory in the decider and book a quarter-final place

Hendry, who eventually triumphed 6-5 at the Wembley Arena, said: "I would have been disappointed to lose, but from 5-0 to 5-5 I had precious little to play at. Matthew played so well. I said to Matthew after that I wouldn't have been gutted to lose that match the way he played. He turned into a different player at 5-0. I couldn't get to the table. It's hard to play well when you're not at the table. It's as simple as that."

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6 December 2006

The UK Championship.

The second greatest snooker tournament started on the 4th of December in York. The best players of the world will compete for this title, Mathew Stevens among them.

The 29-year old Welshman has a good record for this tournament, he was in it's final three times (in 1998, 1999 and 2003) and won the title in 2003. Though the next two seasons weren't lucky for him as he lost his opening matches in 2004 and 2005, but it looks like Stevens wants back to the top and he has good chances by beating 9-5 the Londoner David Gray.

Matthew Stevens anticipates a clash with countryman Ryan Day in the next round. "I know he has to play Ding (Junhui) first, but I've been practising with Ryan, he's playing fantastic snooker and I fancy him to win that match. Ding may be the defending champion, but it will be tough for him to fly back from the Asian Games (in Qatar) and play here the following day."

Carmarthen's 29-year-old Stevens did most of the damage in the first session this morning, building a 6-2 advantage. Gray made a brilliant start to the evening session by becoming only the seventh player to make a 146 in professional play, setting a strong front-runner for the ?5,000 high break prize. But Stevens won the next two frames for an 8-3 lead, and despite seeing his opponent pull two back, got over the winning line in the 14th.

"I've lost in the first round here for the last couple of years so I'm pleased to be through," added Stevens. "I like this venue and I've got good memories of playing here."

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27 October 2006

Stevens ends his Grand Prix run.

The Grand Prix defending champion John Higgins looked heavy favourite from the very beginning of the match with the 4-1 lead. However, Matthew Stevens performed a superb fight-back by winning three frames in a raw with the breaks of 76, 84 and 93 in little over half an hour.

The Welshman led 59-24 with three reds left in the deciding frame, but a poor safety gave the Wizard of Wishaw a chance and that was all he needed as he produced a trademark dish-up, reminiscent of his clearance against Ronnie O'Sullivan in last season's SAGA Insurance Masters final.

"When the pressure is on you're just looking to pot everything. I felt ok during the match, but Matthew can do hurt you when he's on a roll."

Upbeat despite defeat, Stevens admitted he had missed chances to win the match, but paid praise to Higgins.

"What a fantastic clearance," said Stevens. "It's the sign of a true champion. I came back well and I'm pleased with how I played from 4-1. To be honest I didn't really expect to win a match here. It's a snooker match at the end of the day. You've got to put things into perspective. All I did was lose, that's the worst that can happen."

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26 October 2006

The First Stage is behind.

Matthew Stevens ensured his place in the last 16 by beating Liang Wenbo, Stephen Hendry, Fergal O'Brien and Andy Hicks and topped his group.

"I'm not following the positions in the group too closely but that's three out of three and if I keep winning I'll be through," said Stevens before his fourth win. "I've not really practised coming into this tournament but I'm playing ok. I've not got a good record in best-of-nines so maybe best-of-fives suits me."

Stevens is still coming to terms with the death of his close pal Paul Hunter.

"It hasn't sunk in yet," he added. "I keep expecting him to turn up to play then remembering he's gone. It's been really hard for the past 18 months. But I was overwhelmed by the support for Paul at the funeral and to be a pall-bearer was a real honour for me."

Now Matthew Stevens is looking forward to a showpiece match with John Higgins.

"It was a bit odd having to win just one frame, but I tried to just play to win the match," said Stevens. "It will be a tough match against Higgins but you've got to beat the best players if you want to win it."

The Welsh Dragon meets defending champion John Higgins today.

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21 October 2006

Grand Prix

Paul Hunter was buried on the 19th of October. Hundreds of mourners assembled in Leeds Parish Church and many more gathered outside for the funeral.

Many of Hunter's fellow professionals were due to form a guard of honour for their friend's coffin. Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, Jimmy White, Ken Doherty, John Higgins, Mark Williams, Ryan Day, Dennis Taylor, John Parrott, Willie Thorne, John Virgo, Joe Johnson, Alex Higgins, Joe Swail, Michael Holt, Stuart Bingham, Mike Dunn, Peter Ebdon, Shaun Murphy, Jimmy Michie and Stevens, Hunter's closest friend on the circuit, were among those who gathered in Yorkshire to pay their respects to the three-times Masters champion.

Matthew Stevens was one of the pallbearers at the service.

Meanwhile, the Royal London Watches Grand Prix tournament starts today, and Matthew Stevens urged to turn his grief into inspiration and win the Grand Prix for his best mate Paul Hunter. Welshman Stevens is understandably struggling to come to terms with the death of his childhood pal, but former world champion Terry Griffiths told Stevens to win his fifth major trophy at the Royal London Watches Grand Prix in Aberdeen in Hunter's memory.

Welsh snooker legend Griffiths said: "This happening to his best mate will put everything into perspective for Matthew. Something traumatic like this could either affect Matthew's game dramatically or inspire him to success in Paul's memory. Matthew has such talent, I wouldn't rule him out winning the Grand Prix for Paul."

Stevens described his relationship with three-times Masters champ Hunter as a "bond like brothers" since they became inseparable on snooker's junior tour when the now 29-year-old Welsh star was just 11.

The Carmarthen cueman was devastated when he heard his friend was diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer in March 2005 - and Stevens admitted earlier this year: "Paul has been so strong . It has been hard to watch my mate endure the pain of cancer, especially when I can't do anything about it."

Just on Sunday Stevens begins his Grand Prix challenge.

10 October 2006

The Black Day.

Today is a very sad day for all those who love snooker. One of the brightest stars of snooker, Paul Hunter, died on Monday, October 9, evening. Hunter would have been 28 on Saturday. He leaves a wife, Lindsey, and a little daughter, Evie Rose. He battled with cancer bravely but lost this battle.

Willie Thorne, a BBC commentator and former professional, said: "Deep down I think we all thought he was going to beat the disease.

"He was one of the best-looking snooker players we ever had and had a heart like a lion. "He lit up the stage when he played, was a very flamboyant player and there will be a big hole in everybody's hearts for the next year or so"

6 October 2006

New Poker Challenge?

Matthew Stevens is taking part in the 2006 888.com UK Poker Open, together with his fellow snooker players John Higgins and Graeme Dott.

The Welsh Dragon already has a remarkable record in this tournament, he won it in 2004 and pocketed $ 500 000, and became the 4th in 2005. This year he again will try to perform well and adapt the essential snooker skills to the game of poker in competing for a total prize pool of $540,000 among the 65 top poker professionals, 35 net qualifiers and eight celebrities.

Matthew, we wish you good lick, but please don't forget about snooker! The Challenge TV where the tournament is highlighted is not available in every home. Thus, we'd rather watch you playing snooker on Eurosport, the longer, the better.

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In the light of the 2006 888.com UK Poker Open coming, the new article about Matthew Stevens's record in poker is added.

11 September 2006

Happy Birthday, Mr. Stevens!

Matthew Stevens is celebrating his 29th birthday today. We wish him all the best and may the luck be with him whatever he does!

4 September 2006

Pot Black Cup

Pot Black Cup returned on TV in 2005 with Matthew Stevens as the winner. In 2006 this small invitational event with only the best snooker player as the participants was shown again. Though Matthew Stevens is only 14th in the world rankings for now, he took part in this tournament as the defending champion.

He was unable to defend his title losing to John Higgins 64-70 in the first-round match. However, the Pot Black trophy remains in Wales, as Matthew's fellow Welshman and friend took the title with the winning over John Higgins in final.

29 August 2006

German Open Snooker Tornament

The German Open snooker tournament was help from 25 to 27 August in Furth, Germany. This year it's participants were the best snooker players of the world with several members of the top-16: John Higgins, Ken Doherty, Barry Hawkins, Neil Robertson, Stephen Lee and Matthew Stevens.

The winner of the tournament is Michael Holt, last-year's runner-up. He defeated Barry Hawkins 4-2 in the final. Matthew Stevens won his first round matches but lost to Michael Holt in the last 16.

The audience could rub shoulders with the professionals. Stevens needed only 30 minutes for the whole his match, but he had to stay after it for 45 minutes giving autographs.

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22 August 2006

New Snooker Season Start.

The new snooker season began with the Northern Ireland Trophy that took place from the 13th to the 20th of August in Belfast.

Though Matthew Stevens had a very unsatisfactory season 2005-2006, he came to Belfast as the defending champion. Last season the Northern Ireland Trophy was an invitational event with only 20 players taking part in it. However, they were the world top-16 snooker players, the world champion Shaun Murphy and Belfast favorites Mark Allen and Joe Swail. In the 2006-2007 season this tournament got the ranking status.

In first match, the last 32 stage, Matthew Stevens met with experienced Mark King and started the season with a whitewash: the Welshman beat his opponent 5-0 with good breaks of 70, 61, 62, 73, and 51.

Though Stevens lost 5-2 in the last 16 to the top-form Ronnie O'Sullivan, his first-round victory proves that the Welsh Dragon is coming back.