Matthew Stevens all set to take on John Higgins in 2012 Masters – Snooker news
Wales’ Matthew Stevens was not able to start his new year with any good news as he crashed out of Championship League Snooker Group 1 after losing in four matches. The Welshman has now moved into the Championship League Snooker Group 2, where he will be
taking on Mark Davis, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy and the 2011 Australian Goldfields Open winner, Stuart Bingham.
The Championship League Snooker defending champions has high hopes to make it to the Winners Group so that he can retain his title. Right now, the real goal for Stevens is the upcoming 2012 Masters snooker event at the Alexandra Palace in London, England.
The Welsh Dragon is all set to take part in one of the Triple Crowns and play against the current World Snooker Champion, John Higgins.
Speaking to the local media about his plans of Masters tournament, Stevens said, “It's one of the tournaments all the top players want to be in. I've not been involved in it for a few years so it's great to be back. The event gets such a massive audience
on TV and in the arena so it just feels really special.”
The 34-year-old added, “I'm sure Alexandra Palace will be completely different to Wembley so it's a fresh start for all the players. I've watched the darts at Ally Pally on TV — it looks like a really good venue with a great atmosphere.”
The Carmarthen potter dropped out of the top-16 back in 2007, but he did not lose heart and kept working hard which paid him well as he regained his position in the top-16 of the world. Stevens feels quite confident after getting back into the top players’
rankings. Being in the top-16 will definitely help him improve his potting skills.
On the other hand, his track record so far is convincing after some key performances. His current match winning ratio is 62.5 percent after clinching 25 matches out of 40, while his frame winning rate is comparatively lower with a 54.4 percent ratio.
Meanwhile, his performance against the World Snooker Champion, Higgins, is impressive, as he has beaten the champ a couple of times during their clashes in the past. It seems that their match-up in the first round of 2012 Masters will be worth watching.
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