Stevens Returns To Premier League

The Welsh Dragon Matthew Stevens has won a place in the Premier League later this year by beating Shaun Murphy 3-1 in the final of the Championship League Snooker winners group at Crondon Golf Park in Essex. It will be his first appearance in the event since 2002.

Matthew Stevens came through to the winners group in the very last group of the Championship League earlier this week. He topped the group table today and faced countryman Mark Williams in the semi-finals. Mark has been playing some amazing snooker in recent months but Matthew was the comfortable 3-1 winner with the help of breaks of 61, 69 and 56.

He faced recent PTC Grand Finals champion Shaun Murphy in the final who came through against Ali Carter in the semi's 3-2. Matthew took the early lead with the help of a break of 51, but Shaun hit back with a 81 in the second. The last two frames were scrappy affairs but Matthew came out on top in both of them to take the title 3-1. What makes it even more special is that it is the first time he will be in the premier league since 2002!

Matthew has had a good season anyway thanks to winning several matches in PTC events and qualifying for the grand finals and consistently reaching the last 32 in television events. But now he has won this and is up to 11th on the provisional rankings he will have his eyes cast firmly to Sheffield next month. Can he cause an upset?

Image courtesy of Matchroom Sport

Results

Final
Shaun Murphy 1-3 Matthew Stevens
18-67 (Stevens 51), 107-0 (Murphy 81), 40-54, 23-61

Semi Finals
Matthew Stevens 3-1 Mark Williams
36-61 (Williams 36, Stevens 61), 0-69 (Stevens 69), 70-0 (Williams 70), 48-64 (Williams 48, Stevens 56)

Shaun Murphy 3-2 Ali Carter
101-38 (Murphy 40), 12-69 (Carter 30), 90-0 (Murphy 90), 1-92 (Carter 64), 76-43 (Murphy 43, Carter 60)