View Full Version : World Snooker Championships
Will anyone be watching and if so who will you support? I want ronnie o sullivan to win but also want paul hunter to do well. it will be remarkable seeing as he has been just been diagnosed with cancer- he will play whilst having chemo.
Uzi
14th April 2005, 13:59
I have and always will support Rocket Ronnie. he is by far the most exciting player to watch in an otherwise quite boring sport.
I hope after being diagnosed with cancer that Hunter does well in the tournament too.
waquas_uk
14th April 2005, 14:05
when isit startin ive always liked stephen hendry since i was young i no hes not the same but still my fav.
ImranR
14th April 2005, 17:07
Stpehen hendry is the best player to hold a cue but ronnie is just too good now.
Rob H
14th April 2005, 17:09
Stephen Hendry is my fav.
Abdul Qadir 236
14th April 2005, 17:32
I always been a Hendry fan despite the pressure from my folks to switch allegiance to the Whirlwind.
Greatest player ever and has not fizzled out as the Romford Slim did, as to who will win, dont know but has the Chinese player qualified?
Geordie Ahmed
14th April 2005, 18:12
Shaukhat Ali or whatever that pakistani from Accrington is called. that is if he is still playing
Uzi
14th April 2005, 18:15
The Rocket doesn't live far from me, I would say maybe just over a mile. I have seen him before jogging with his personal trainer. He apparently jogs 6-8 miles a day, maybe even more.
I'm not sure if that guy Shokat Ali has qualified, he may have done, but I'm not sure. I think about a couple of years ago he beat John Parrott 6-0 at one of the tournaments, which was quite funny.
Uzi
14th April 2005, 18:20
You can do a draw predictor on BBC for those that haven't tried it yet.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/draw_predictor/default.stm
waquas_uk
14th April 2005, 18:27
when isit starting?
Uzi
14th April 2005, 18:52
The tournament starts on Saturday.
Abdul Qadir 236
14th April 2005, 19:02
any1 here like pool?
Rob H
14th April 2005, 19:13
I hope sean Maguire beats Ronnie like last time.
Uzi
14th April 2005, 19:15
Gary yaar, don't tell me you watch pool on skysports?
RH: Like last time, when? He hasn't beaten Ronnie in the World Championships. He has beaten Ronnie twice earlier in season, but then Ronnie has beaten him last 2 times.
It defo is a very tricky match for Ronnie, but if he plays anywhere near his best he should go through.
Rob H
14th April 2005, 19:25
I watched international pool. I am embarrased for watching it though
Abdul Qadir 236
14th April 2005, 19:36
The magician EFREN REYES!!!
what a legend.
and the best character in billiard sports:
EARL THE PEARL STRICKLAND
TAHIR
14th April 2005, 20:00
WHO IS THIS PAKISTANI GUY FROM ACCRINGTON?
ALSO WILL DING JUNG HUI BE PLAYING?
Abdul Qadir 236
14th April 2005, 20:05
none of them in draw.
stephen hendry is past it. ronny to win and hunter to do well!!
Abdul Qadir 236
14th April 2005, 21:02
SM, are u the one who nawaz said joined PP because of me? lol
Hendry can still turn it on, wouldnt bet against him.
Waqar's inswinging yorker
15th April 2005, 00:30
rocket ronnie all the way - inshallah he converts to islam afterwards - he did say once he had finished playing then he would make a serious effort
Abdul Qadir 236
15th April 2005, 18:09
yeah he has really turned himself around after all his troubles.
he is waiting till his dad is out of prison first- strict catholic family. he is finding out more about islam though- wants to build his knowledge up
Abdul Qadir 236
15th April 2005, 18:45
yeah he should know what he is getting into for want of a better word before becoming Muslim.
we should get ataullah to talk to him!
he's had prince naseem show him around a mosque and he has spoken to the imam there.
Abdul Qadir 236
15th April 2005, 18:48
mashallah - but u lot dont expect me to do the same!!!
who will the rest of you guys be supporting?
Abdul Qadir 236
15th April 2005, 19:18
Jimmy White is my dads fave - he is the people's champion!
past it!!!!
ronnie and paul!! lol.
Abdul Qadir 236
15th April 2005, 19:24
lol well i love watching him and tony drago.
Waqar's inswinging yorker
15th April 2005, 19:35
jimmy white is a legend !!!! and is still a darkhorse - could have a good run
Abdul Qadir 236
15th April 2005, 19:38
yes he has shown at times he can roll back the years and will be wiser with all his experience.
Waqar's inswinging yorker
15th April 2005, 19:47
has looked great at times this year
Abdul Qadir 236
15th April 2005, 19:49
ya i would love to see him win - he deserves it after 6 finals losses.
TAHIR
15th April 2005, 20:39
Any of you lot play at home or local clubs?
Why isnt Ding in the draw?????
He won the China Open!
Abdul Qadir 236
15th April 2005, 20:40
u have to qualify.
i play pool, sometimes snooker at golf club with my dad who was very good in his day.
Waqar's inswinging yorker
15th April 2005, 20:42
i play snooker mainly - have highest of a 32 break - 4 reds and 4 blacks
Abdul Qadir 236
15th April 2005, 20:43
mashallah - is snooker getting more popular with desis?
pool is - i saw some guy called Imran Majid at the 9 ball worlds.
Waqar's inswinging yorker
15th April 2005, 20:55
well if ronny converts to islam - it will get even bigger
Abdul Qadir 236
15th April 2005, 20:56
yeah good point.
Waqar's inswinging yorker
15th April 2005, 20:58
just like muhammad ali - had huge imapct
Abdul Qadir 236
15th April 2005, 20:59
yes read a book in german about him
ImranR
15th April 2005, 21:04
My highest break on a twelve foot table is 66.
Waqar's inswinging yorker
15th April 2005, 21:07
im more of a safety player - love putting ppl into snookers - get a lot of points from that
Abdul Qadir 236
15th April 2005, 21:10
lol i dont have the skill so i do an akash chopra lol like steve davis in the 80s!
ImranR
16th April 2005, 13:34
R O'SULLIVAN (Eng) 5-4 S MAGUIRE (Sco)
0-72 (50) 23-69 (59) 80-17 (72) 72-40 14-60 (54) 115-0 (115) 74-50 (73) 22-66 99-12 (99)
David gray 4-2 Hamilton
O'Sullivan 7-8 Maguire
come on ronnie!!!!!
Uzi
16th April 2005, 20:39
9-7 Maguire, isn't looking good for Ronnie.
Hopefully he can pull it back, he needs to win 3 frames in a row to win.
He needs to produce the magic now.
Uzi
16th April 2005, 20:55
O'Sullivan 8-9 Maguire
Come on Rocket!!
pak_all_the_way
16th April 2005, 21:00
come on ronnie, i wanted to go to his next match
pak_all_the_way
16th April 2005, 21:03
shot RONNIE
shud level it up
Uzi
16th April 2005, 21:11
9-9 Come on Rocket!!
pak_all_the_way
16th April 2005, 21:12
chance for ronnie for the match!!!!!!!!!!!!
Uzi
16th April 2005, 21:17
Boys we can party now. Ronnie has won 10-9
pak_all_the_way
16th April 2005, 21:18
RONNIE RONNIE RONNIE
yes!!!! knew he could do it.
Paul Hunter received a warm welcome from The Crucible crowd, but found a tough opponent in Michael Holt as their opening session ended 4-5.
Hunter, who decided to play despite recently being diagnosed with cancer, saw his early thunder stolen as Holt took the opener with a fine 93 break.
A 62 in the second brought Hunter level, before Holt again went ahead.
Three frames in a row put Hunter in control, but Holt took two of the last three to keep the pressure on.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P HUNTER (Eng) 5-4 M HOLT (Eng)
22-93 (93) 85-0 (62) 35-70 68-0 70-17 (51) 98-12 (74) 16-78 63-59 53-70 (61)
Gray 8-10 Hamilton Davis 9-9 Greene
HAFRIDI
17th April 2005, 22:44
woooooahoooooo ronnie rulz!
waquas_uk
18th April 2005, 09:53
1st round is boring
its not that boring.
P HUNTER (Eng) 6-8 M HOLT (Eng)
22-93 (93) 85-0 (62) 35-70 68-0 70-17 (51) 98-12 (74) 16-78 63-59 53-70 (61) 36-67 (51) 36-64 56-64 119-8 (115) 56-68 (56 Hunter)
ImranR
18th April 2005, 16:27
Cant wait for Hendrys game
cant believe hunter has been knocked out, but he wasnt looking his best. best of luck to him with his chemo.
P HUNTER (Eng) 8-10 M HOLT (Eng)
22-93 (93) 85-0 (62) 35-70 68-0 70-17 (51) 98-12 (74) 16-78 63-59 53-70 (61) 36-67 (51) 36-64 56-64 119-8 (115) 56-68 (56 Hunter) 6-67 (58) 120-2 (120) 62-30 42-68
K DOHERTY (Ire) 8-5 B PINCHES (Eng)
25-59 68-34 0-77 (68) 11-63 0-102 (102) 69-9 (68) 0-73 (52) 74-34 125-0 (55,70) 95-0 (91) 109-1 (109) 76-2 101-22 (68)
J HIGGINS (Sco) 3-3 M SELBY (Eng)
136-0 (136) 0-135 (135) 105-7 117-8 (51,66) 22-76 17-69
K DOHERTY (Ire) 10-5 B PINCHES (Eng)
25-59 68-34 0-77 (68) 11-63 0-102 (102) 69-9 (68) 0-73 (52) 74-34 125-0 (55,70) 95-0 (91) 109-1 (109) 76-2 101-22 (68) 82-14 (82) 59-26
J HIGGINS (Sco) 5-4 M SELBY (Eng)
136-0 (136) 0-135 (135) 105-7 117-8 (51,66) 22-76 17-69 57-64 (53 Higgins) 84-21 (60) 106-0 (106)
Waqar's inswinging yorker
19th April 2005, 02:42
ronnie played superbly in end frames to clinch it !
inshallah he will win.
he has got a lot of backing just saw an interview with steven gerrard saying he wants ronnie to win.
Steven Gerrard was there today. He was interviewed by the BBC.
he said he was disappointed his days off have been when ronnie isnt playing but he said he is gonna try and watch him live
Fu 4-10 Carter Williams 7-1 Milkins
Geordie Ahmed
20th April 2005, 16:16
Williams hits a 147 :D> :D> :D> :D>
ImranR
20th April 2005, 16:39
147 :D> :D>
Oxy
20th April 2005, 16:48
Snooker is not a sport!
Geordie Ahmed
20th April 2005, 16:52
Snooker is not a sport!
Who said it was???
Tho you have to appreciate the skill involved in getting a 147
Dott 2-4 McCulloch Ebdon 10-2 Hann
Brave Hunter knocked out
Paul Hunter said the reaction of The Crucible crowd and his fellow players had given him a huge boost as he starts his fight against cancer.
Hunter receives the results of tests later this week and will begin a three-month course of chemotherapy.
"There was a fantastic atmosphere - when I came through the curtain on Sunday, I was nearly crying," Hunter told BBC Sport.
"I felt the same when Fergal O'Brien and Jimmy White were clapping me."
Hunter has been the focus of attention in Sheffield after last week's news of his diagnosis with cancer.
The three-time Masters champion received a standing ovation from the crowd after deciding to play at The Crucible and did himself proud with a battling display under hugely difficult circumstances.
"I'm really pleased just to be here - I didn't know if I was going to play or not but that just made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up," said Hunter.
"I've just been in shock, it's not every day you find out you've got cancer at the age of 26.
"I was going to drop out of (previous tournament) China Open but I really wanted to play there. I would play on my death bed, that's the kind of person I am.
"I'm just taking one day at a time. I want to thank all my fans for their messages of support and I'll be back here next year fighting."
Hunter will undergo a CT scan to assess the extent of his cancer on Tuesday, and also said he planned to bank sperm before beginning his chemotherapy.
nufc
20th April 2005, 21:08
147 is very hard to get!!
Liverpool footballer Steven Gerrard travelled from Anfield to take in the match between Scotland's John Higgins and Leicester youngster Ian Selby.
It was Gerrard's first taste of the magic of the Crucible and the England midfielder declared himself highly impressed by what he saw.
However, Gerrard admitted his highest break was a meagre 28.
So for the time being at least, Gerrard will stick to playing for the Reds rather than potting colours.
K DOHERTY (Irl) 11-11 A McMANUS (Sco)
9-62 22-87 (57) 56-6 0-126 (104) 0-131 (103) 51-47 96-26 (59) 37-64 86-14 99-0 37-87 (87) 18-107 (107) 45-61 101-0 (101) 98-28 72-45 (67) 73-17 (73) 80-51 (53) 15-59 0-91 (63) 63-37 1-91 (59)
J HIGGINS (Sco) 4-4 S MURPHY (Eng)
72-7 (66) 89-16 (85) 63-40 (51) 55-56 82-0 (62) 0-129 (129) 20-80 0-79
End of session - play resumes Sun 1900
Higgins 4-4 Murphy Stevens 5-3 White
whats happening to jimmy?
(Second round, best of 25 frames)
M STEVENS (Wal) 12-4 J WHITE (Eng)
61-62 83-1 45-70 83-17 (55) 80-8 (50) 64-20 49-63 76-50 (66) 58-30 83-0 (59) 68-1 97-0 (90) 66-1 (65) 18-71 110-13 (106) 121-3 (121)
J HIGGINS (Sco) 7-9 S MURPHY (Eng)
72-7 (66) 89-16 (85) 63-40 (51) 55-56 82-0 (62) 0-129 (129) 20-80 0-79 43-70 56-61 65-0 (52) 0-97 74-12 1-97 (97) 6-72 (72) 88-17 (68)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earlier action:
P EBDON (Eng) 2-6 S LEE (Eng)
43-76 63-0 7-111 (61) 0-78 (52) 50-52 6-70 (52) 76-69 (respotted black) 19-76
Play resumes 1000 BST on Monday
M WILLIAMS (Wal) 5-3 I McCULLOCH (Eng)
71-78 (59 Williams, respotted black) 143-0 (133) 42-60 (60) 79-0 102-30 (102) 115-16 (60) 0-90 (90) 70-68 (62 Williams)
Play resumes 1000 BST on Monday.
Murphy 12-3 Davis Hendry 8-8 Stevens
ImranR
26th April 2005, 21:14
It will be Hendry vs Murphy
Ronnie vs McCulloch
Ronnie vs Hendry in the finals and hopefully hendry will win
I think Murphy might cause a few more upsets yet. He is in TOP form!
Toony™®
26th April 2005, 23:28
o'sullivan leading 6-2 againtebdon at interval and he is still playing not half to his potential!
the SHA
27th April 2005, 00:26
has Jimmy White won yet? Ive been waiting 15 years!
has Jimmy White won yet? Ive been waiting 15 years!
:)))
No but he's been trying since beofre I was born. The unlucky git!
lolll
Wednesday's quarter-final updates. Matches are best of 25 frames.
R O'SULLIVAN 8-5 P EBDON
79-1 (71) 137-0 (137) 63-68 101-0 (101) 98-0 (79) 86-8 48-71 110-14 (71) 60-34 69-17 (54) 47-61 51-63 16-97 (59)
S HENDRY 11-11 M STEVENS
31-70 (64) 8-74 4-63 (55) 84-7 0-114 (94) 47-70 71-40 (56) 77-18 (54) 138-0 (138) 86-54 (86,54) 114-20 (114) 68-21 (59) 5-78 0-75 (70) 81-32 (54) 68-21 0-93 85-30 73-17 106-20 (56) 54-65 31-71 (66)
To follow (all times BST):
1430 session:
S MURPHY (Eng) 12-4 S DAVIS (Eng)
72-5 47-43 62-73 73-51 (58,41) 82-1 (82) 50-28 107-4 (72) 70-66 (58,51) 0-111 (110) 67-5 74-30 (73) 92-30 31-86 121-4 (121) 60-54 18-64
A McMANUS 5-3 I McCULLOCH
31-101 (73) 0-125 (124) 0-119 (74) 64-24 67-13 (55) 72-29 (71) 66-42 66-59
1900 session:
O'SULLIVAN-EBDON and McMANUS-McCULLOCH
R O'SULLIVAN 10-6 P EBDON
79-1 (71) 137-0 (137) 63-68 101-0 (101) 98-0 (79) 86-8 48-71 110-14 (71) 60-34 (60) 69-17 (54) 47-61 51-63 16-97 (59) 76-26 0-62 (55) 62-56 (O'Sullivan 54)
A McMANUS (Sco) 5-9 I McCULLOCH (Eng)
31-101 (73) 0-125 (124) 0-119 (74) 64-24 67-13 (55) 72-29 (71) 66-42 66-59 43-67 0-98 (52) 0-76 (76) 41-50 0-64 9-61
Quarter final results:
S HENDRY 11-13 M STEVENS
31-70 (64) 8-74 4-63 (55) 84-7 0-114 (94) 47-70 71-40 (56) 77-18 (54) 138-0 (138) 86-54 (86,54) 114-20 (114) 68-21 (59) 5-78 0-75 (70) 81-32 (54) 21-68 0-93 85-30 73-17 106-20 (56) 54-65 31-71 (66) 49-77 0-93 (67)
S MURPHY (Eng) 13-4 S DAVIS (Eng)
72-5 47-43 62-73 73-51 (58,41) 82-1 (82) 50-28 107-4 (72) 70-66 (58,51) 0-111 (110) 67-5 74-30 (73) 92-30 31-86 121-4 (121) 60-54 18-64 86-30
ImranR
27th April 2005, 19:24
*** Ronnie was winning 10-2 and now its 10-9.Ronnies concentration has gone
pak_all_the_way
27th April 2005, 20:11
10-10
was he really winning 10-2
damn!!
COME ON RONNIE
dont let boring ebdon win
Rob H
27th April 2005, 20:13
Ebdon should be banned for playing so slowly
Toony™®
27th April 2005, 20:14
he was winning 8-2, i have been watching it...and ronny is proper self destructing. At this rate, anyone in the world can beat him..he is cracking jokes, head in his hands, proper doesnt care... he missed one shot with like 30 odd on the table and ebdon around 28 ahead..he gave up...mid-session interval couldnt come fast enough!
pak_all_the_way
27th April 2005, 20:24
Ebdon should be banned for playing so slowly
of course the guy takes ages man! moves his knuckles bout 5 times before he takes a simple shot
pak_all_the_way
27th April 2005, 20:25
ronnie probablt been chilling with prince naz again!
ImranR
27th April 2005, 20:27
Its good tactics by Ebdon.Maybe other should take 45 seconds a shot like ebdon does when facing Ronnie lol
pak_all_the_way
27th April 2005, 20:43
ebdon asking for cue ball to be cleaned after every shot
what a muppet
Uzi
27th April 2005, 20:55
Watching Ebdon is like watching paint dry, but 10 times worse.
ImranR
27th April 2005, 21:00
My grandmother plays faster then Ebdon
pak_all_the_way
27th April 2005, 21:09
takes the lead for the 1st time stupid ebdon!
ImranR
27th April 2005, 21:12
Ebdon 11-10 Ronnie
pak_all_the_way
27th April 2005, 21:16
how tragic would it be if ebdon knocked out ronnie.
contrasting players the boring one goes out.
will make the championship very boring!
although mcollough is a good break builder and also local boy murphy looks good.
anyone but lightbulb head ebdon!!
pak_all_the_way
27th April 2005, 21:17
yes missed black
come on ronnie
pak_all_the_way
27th April 2005, 21:19
i think even john virgo wants ronnie to win by the tone of his voice he gettin frustrated with ebdon
Toony™®
27th April 2005, 21:26
Ronnie is playing awful!
Toony™®
27th April 2005, 22:03
ebdon 12 - ronny 10
Toony™®
27th April 2005, 22:08
ebdon 12 - ronny 11 - ronny wins his first frame this evening
scrappy frame - he is playing proper crap though.. hardly making a break more than 20.
w4s1m786
27th April 2005, 22:44
ronny is out 11-13
Uzi
27th April 2005, 22:46
Ebdon was like Chelsea, getting all the luck.
I couldn't believe how lucky he was.
Ronnie played very poorly today.
Uzi
27th April 2005, 23:03
I'm really pissed off that Ronnie is out of the tournament.
I think I've broken my knuckles after punching the wall after he lost.
Amjid Javed
27th April 2005, 23:26
ebdons tactics where a joke... shockly poor stuff!
not in spirit of the game!
HAFRIDI
28th April 2005, 08:50
damm ronnie out!!!!!:(
Oxy
28th April 2005, 08:55
Does Dennis Taylor still play?
HAFRIDI
28th April 2005, 09:01
dennis who...........??!!
Oxy
28th April 2005, 09:19
C'mon Haroon! YOu must have heard of the greatest snooker final (and the most watched final ever) ...Steve Davies v Dennis Taylor in 1985?
HAFRIDI
28th April 2005, 09:24
:)?
Oxy
28th April 2005, 09:45
It was a legendary final...in the days I watched the damn thing!
There have been University Theses written on this final!!!
i cant believe ronnie is out. i agree with rh that ebdon should be banned - it makes the game boring. good tactics - worked in distracting ronnie
final's between matthew stevens and shaun murphy.
Shaun Murphy and Matthew Stevens will both be hoping to make their own bit of history when they come face to face in the World Championship final on Sunday.
Murphy, 22, is aiming to become only the second qualifier after Terry Griffiths in 1979 to lift the trophy.
While Stevens, 27, in his second final, is aiming to make up for losing to fellow Welshman Mark Williams in 2000.
Whoever wins, by Monday there were be a new name on the trophy and a new member in snooker's most exclusive club.
Murphy does not believe that being a qualifier makes the prospect of being in the final any more daunting.
"It doesn't matter whether you're a qualifier or a seed - it's the biggest tournament of our game and you've got to go out there and play," he said.
"At The Open, whether you're Tiger Woods or a qualifier, you're still nervous on the first tee.
"Since I started people said I had the potential to get this far - it's just taken a couple more years than I'd have liked."
Stevens said he looked forward to playing Murphy and to having a chance to bury his "nearly-man" tag.
He also revealed Paul Hunter had been on the phone to offer congratulations straight after his semi-final win.
"It's going to be a very good final - we both like playing our shots and we're quick around the table," he said.
"Since I lost the world final five years ago I've won three semi-finals and my first ranking tournament, so I'm a lot stronger. I'm over that now."
Matthew Stevens will take a 5-3 lead over qualifier Shaun Murphy into the second session of the World Snooker Championship final in Sheffield.
Murphy, ranked 48 in the world, won the first frame of the match, but his Welsh opponent made breaks of 54 and 60 to take the next two.
A scrappy fourth was won by Murphy before Stevens claimed the next two error-strewn frames to go 4-2 ahead.
Murphy made it 4-3 with a 56, before Stevens nicked the eighth on the black.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M STEVENS (Wal) 5-3 S MURPHY (Eng)
30-67 98-0 (54) 103-20 (60) 55-68 65-29 65-22 34-76 (56) 56-46
Which one is the Welsh guy?
Shayan
1st May 2005, 19:52
6-3 to Stevens right now. Looks set to make it 7-3. He's looking good.
OK, Stevens is the Welsh guy.
COME ON WALES!!!
OK, Stevens is the Welsh guy.
COME ON WALES!!!
Thought you were pakistani not bloody welsh [-(
Born in Wales...makes Welsh!
I happen to have a Pak dad; Kenyan mum.
So much choice!
Fessal
1st May 2005, 20:49
Whenever I see the world snooker championship I always say to myself: poor jimmy.
Anyway, I went to the crucible in 1997/98 and was lucky to witness Jimmy thrashing Stephen Hendry in the first round match. Was 10-1 or something I cant remmeber but do remember the excitment and the atmposphere.
Looks like the Welsh boyo will win this!
i want stevens to win
Matthew Stevens will be hoping that history does not repeat itself as he bids to capture his first World Championship title on Monday.
The Welshman leads Shaun Murphy 10-6 and needs to clinch eight more frames to win when play resumes at 1430 BST.
But Stevens also led Mark Williams 10-6 in his previous final appearance in 2000 and went on to lose 18-16.
Victory for qualifier Murphy would make the 22-year-old the second-youngest winner in World Championship history.
The 27-year-old Stevens has endured his fair share of Crucible heartache, losing the 2000 final and three semi-finals between 2001 and 2004.
And his motivation to finally claim snooker's biggest prize will come not just from previous disappointments but also from his good friend and fellow professional Paul Hunter, who is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.
"Part of me wants to win it for Paul. It will be in the back of my mind," said Stevens.
"He'll be one of the first to get a mention if I win it."
Much of the first day of the final was an attritional affair with both players struggling to produce the form displayed earlier in the tournament.
The opening session had only three half-century breaks, the highest being a 60 in frame three which helped Stevens open a 5-3 advantage.
Only in the final part of the second session were there signs of the duo settling down and displaying any fluency.
Murphy, who had knocked out three former world champions in John Higgins, Steve Davis and Peter Ebdon, could have ended the evening only 9-7 in arrears.
He found himself 56-30 ahead in the day's final frame but then conceded 20 points when snookered on the final yellow to bring Stevens right back into contention.
Murphy had another chance but failed to convert the brown - and in stepped Stevens for a clearance to stretch the gap to four frames.
Prize money of £250,000 awaits the winner with £125,000 going to the runner-up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M STEVENS (Wal) 10-6 S MURPHY (Eng)
30-67 98-0 (54) 103-20 (60) 55-68 65-29 65-22 34-76 (56) 56-46 58-53 (52 Murphy) 70-38 0-125 (125) 6-79 (66) 105-24 (80) 86-5 (86) 9-103 (84) 65-58
Fessal
2nd May 2005, 13:43
Come on Stevens. I have always wanted him to win it after Jimmy White. The welsh chap is a good player and quite a humble down to earth person. He could have won it before.
M STEVENS (Wal) 11-11 S MURPHY (Eng)
30-67 98-0 (54) 103-20 (60) 55-68 65-29 65-22 34-76 (56) 56-46 58-53 (52 Murphy) 70-38 0-125 (125) 6-79 (66) 105-24 (80) 86-5 (86) 9-103 (84) 68-56 (41) 22-78 (51) 11-84 (56) 64-5 60-80 (60 Stevens, 80 Murphy) 0-137 (137) 57-64
Geordie Ahmed
2nd May 2005, 21:28
Really exciting finish!
16-16 at the moment
Whilst I am no snooker fan...I like to watch the last couple of frames if it goes down to the wire.
16-16!!! Who is looking the calmest GA?
Geordie Ahmed
2nd May 2005, 21:38
Murphy all the way!
The guy has played very very well. Stevens did well the 2 frames before this BUT overall he hasnt had the best of evenings!
Initially i wasnt fussed who wins BUT i like the way Murphy has been playing, he has took on plenty of risky shots
Geordie Ahmed
2nd May 2005, 21:38
Murphy 17-16
Geordie Ahmed
2nd May 2005, 21:41
superb shot by stevens - he needs to take advantage if he wants to win the frame
Fessal
2nd May 2005, 21:45
Come on Stevens.
Geordie Ahmed
2nd May 2005, 21:45
Murphy in a spotof bother - Stevens has him stuck, murphy has gave 8 points so far
Geordie Ahmed
2nd May 2005, 21:52
Murphy on the table - just pots a superb black!
Its his for the taking
Geordie Ahmed
2nd May 2005, 21:55
He's getting there
Geordie Ahmed
2nd May 2005, 21:56
Murphy does it
Fessal
2nd May 2005, 21:57
Damn. Anyway well played both and well done to Murphy.
Fessal
2nd May 2005, 21:57
I have this feeling Mathew Stevens may become the new Jimmy White by gettint to world finals and losing.
Geordie Ahmed
2nd May 2005, 22:04
I have this feeling Mathew Stevens may become the new Jimmy White by gettint to world finals and losing.
Same here, i hope he can win it!
Still im sure the £125,000 will comfort him tonight
ImranR
2nd May 2005, 22:24
Well played both players but Murphy deserved it after some outstanding performances
i agree. murphy played really well - deserved it
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