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Matthew Stevens
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Matthew Stevens (born 11 September 1977, Carmarthen, Wales) is a Welsh professional snooker player. Turning professional in 1994, Stevens reached number six in the world rankings in 2000 and spent the next seven seasons in the top 8, peaking at #4 for 2005/2006. After the 2007 World Championships, Stevens dropped out of the elite top 16 for the first time in 8 years, and did not return in the next two years. His best results have been in the big tournaments, such as the UK Championship and World Championship as longer matches seem to suit his playing style.
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Encyclopedia
Matthew Stevens (born 11 September 1977, Carmarthen, Wales) is a Welsh professional snooker player. Turning professional in 1994, Stevens reached number six in the world rankings in 2000 and spent the next seven seasons in the top 8, peaking at #4 for 2005/2006. After the 2007 World Championships, Stevens dropped out of the elite top 16 for the first time in 8 years, and did not return in the next two years. His best results have been in the big tournaments, such as the UK Championship and World Championship as longer matches seem to suit his playing style. Known as a good breakbuilder, he has compiled 171 competitive centuries during his career, 11th on the all time list.
Career
Stevens made his first breakthrough in the 1997/1998 season, reaching the semi-finals of both the 1997 Grand Prix and Liverpool Victoria UK Championship, and the quarter-finals on his debut in the Crucible stage of the World Championship. In late 1998 he reached his first final at the UK Championship, before losing 10-6 to John Higgins. He has one ranking tournament victory: the UK Championship in 2003.
Stevens has never won the World Snooker Championship but has reached the final twice. In 2000 he reached the final but lost 16-18 to Mark Williams after having been up 10-6, 13-7 and then 14-10 with only the final session to play. Stevens became only the second player in the history of the world championship to lose in the final from holding a 4 frame overnight lead. In 2005 he was again runner-up, losing 16-18 to Shaun Murphy in the final, having been up 10-6 and then 12-11 with only the final session to play. Again Stevens relinquished a 4 frame overnight lead to lose in the final, only the third time this has ever happened. He has also been a beaten semi-finalist on three occasions in 2001, 2002 and 2004. In 2002 he looked certain to have won a place in the final leading Peter Ebdon 16-14 in their semi final tie, and just needed a relatively simple red in the 31st frame to leave his opponent needing snookers. Stevens missed the pot and Ebdon made a famous clearance to win the frame, and went on to take the next two to win the match. In 2007 he lost 12-13 to Murphy in the quarter finals having led 11-5 and 12-7, making him the first person to ever lose a best of 25 match from leading 12-7. In 2008 he was defeated in the first round of the world championship for the first time in his career by defending champion John Higgins, and he finished ranked outside the top 16 for the second consecutive season.
Like Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stevens is right-handed but sometimes plays certain shots left-handed if necessary. In 1998 he along with a couple of other players compiled three 147s in a one day event, the Buckleys Best Snooker Challenge, setting a new record.
Personal life
The unexpected death of his father, manager and friend Morrell in 2001 was tough on him. This caused Matthew to have an uneventful few seasons. Stevens and his wife Claire Holloway have one son, Freddie, who was born in 2004.
Matthew attended an all Welsh speaking school - Bro Myrddin Welsh Comprehensive School.
Stevens was a pallbearer at close friend Paul Hunter's funeral. He is also a celebrity Texas hold 'em poker player and, in 2004 won the UK's richest poker tournament at just 27 years old, beating former World Darts champion Phil Taylor to first place. Stevens had only been playing poker for 18 months before his victory.
Tournament wins
Ranking events
Other tournaments
External links
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