Date:02/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/02/stories/2005050207791900.htm

Sport - Billiards & Snooker

Stevens sets up showdown with Shaun Murphy

SHEFFIELD: Former finalist Matthews Stevens, the nearly man of the World snooker championships, missed out on a 147 but still booked his place in the 2005 final where he will face Shaun Murphy.

The Welsh sixth seed, three times a losing semifinalist and runner-up in 2000, overcame qualifier Ian McCulloch 17-14.

He will now meet another qualifier in the shape of Murphy in the best-of-35 frames contest on Sunday and Monday.

The results (semifinals):

Shaun Murphy (Eng) bt Peter Ebdon (Eng) 17-12 (Ebdon first): (78-10, 22-93, 101-9, 77-22, 0-77, 76-20, 79-8, 99-40, 0-138(138), 0-108(108), 79-9, 25-77, 0-96, 30-66, 14-91, 1-99, 75-0, 72-48, 96-13, 4-78, 23-99, 57-12, 84-0, 0-132(132), 6-63, 19-85, 1-79, 0-123, 0-80).

Matthew Stevens (Wal) bt Ian McCulloch (Eng) 17-14 (Stevens first): (38-72, 39-66, 23-61, 4-127(127), 53-43, 6-122(122), 71-4, 0-83, 119-0, 77-22, 34-84, 75-14, 103-24, 0-103, 64-1, 72-38, 70-61, 33-66, 0-78, 104-24, 76-0, 86-6, 7-70, 27-78, 71-14, 22-98, 129(129)-0, 56-51, 76-0, 8-66, 60-1).