Matthew Stevens grabs Snooker Championship League 2011 victory
Welshman, Matthew Stevens grabbed the Snooker Championship League 2011 title after beating Players Tour Championship (PTC) 2011 Grand final winner, Shaun Murphy, 3-1, in the final on Thursday,
at Crondon Park Golf Club in Essex, England. He has booked his spot in this year’s Snooker Premier League.
The 2003 UK Championship winner, Stevens, led the group after league matches on day one and two. He faced compatriot, Mark Williams in the semi-final. In his semi-final clash, he outplayed
Williams 3-1 to storm into the final against Murphy.
Stevens was 0-36 down to Williams in the first frame before he sparked his cue and pocketed an impressive 61 break to pick a 1-0 lead. He extended the lead to 2-0 as he took the next frame
hitting a beautiful break of 69. The Welsh Potting Machine sprang back and grabbed his first frame after he gave in a 70-points break to move within one frame and reduce the lead to 2-1.
The 36-years-old Williams stunned Stevens as he banged a stunning break of 48 and gained 0-48 early lead in the frame. Stevens was completely shaken by the 2010 China Open champion but
he got his nerves under control and stumbled upon the table with full strength. He potted an exceptional half century break of 56 and took the frame 56-48 and also grabbed the final match spot against Shaun Murphy of England.
The points table after the league matches was as follows.
No. Player Played Won Lost *F.W *F.L Points
1 Matthew Stevens 6 5 1 16 8 5
2 Shaun Murphy 6 3 3 15 12 3
3 Ali Carter 6 3 3 14 11 3
4 Mark Williams 6 3 3 13 12 3
5 Mark Allen 6 3 3 10 15 3
6 Ryan Day 6 2 4 10 15 2
7 Mark Selby 6 2 4 10 15 2
*F.W= Frames Won
*F.L= Frames Lost
The 33-years-old Welshman clicked a 1-0 early lead after he cued a stunning half century break of 51 in the first frame of the final match to snatch the frame 67-18. Englishman, Murphy,
capitalised back quickly in the very next frame and fired a beautiful 81 knock. He grabbed the second frame 0-107 to balance the game 1-1.
The Welsh Dragon did not let go easily as he stunned the 28-year-old Murphy, also known as the Magician. He smashed his cue on the table brilliantly grabbing back to back frames and clinched
the final match of Snooker Championship League 2011 by 3-1.
Stevens has stormed into the Snooker Premier League for the first time since 2002, where he could not make to the play-off stage. Keeping in view Stevens' current performance over the
last month, it can be assumed that the Welshman is going to surprise the premier league participants with his sparking cue. He is on the peak of his form as he is demonstrating a scintillating potting display from the last couple of weeks.
The day-two results of winners group are listed below:
FINAL
Shaun Murphy 1-3 Matthew Stevens
18-67 (51), 107 (81)-0, 40-54, 23-61
SEMI-FINALS
Mark Williams 1-3 Matthew Stevens
36 (36)-61 (61), 0-69 (69), 70 (70)-0, 48 (48)-64 (56)
Shaun Murphy 3-2 Ali Carter
101 (40)-38, 12-69 (30), 90 (90)-0, 1-92 (64), 76 (60)-43 (43)
GROUP MATCHES
Mark Selby 2-3 Mark Allen
66 (38)-65 (30), 94 (94)-0, 0-87 (87), 14-92 (88), 0-95 (95)
Mark Williams 3-2 Ryan Day
4-61 (59), 73 (48)-26, 72 (40)-33, 8-78 (78), 64 (30, 32)-20
Ali Carter 2-3 Matthew Stevens
6-52, 71 (50)-4, 16-78 (70), 106 (101)-0, 32 (32)-79 (70)
Shaun Murphy 3-1 Mark Allen
88 (59)-18, 39 (33)-63 (60), 93 (41, 52)-17, 112 (112)-0
Mark Williams 1-3 Matthew Stevens
0-90 (90), 60 (31)-1, 7-74, 40-69
Mark Selby 1-3 Ryan Day
70 (46)-51 (50), 0-80 (73), 10-73 (68), 0-78 (42, 36)
Shaun Murphy 2-3 Ryan Day
59 (51)-7, 70 (31, 39)-63 (63), 0-102 (102), 25-74 (40), 55 (32)-77 (48)
Mark Williams 3-0 Mark Allen
69 (55)-65, 76 (76)-0, 79 (79)-0
Ali Carter 3-0 Mark Selby
73 (40)-37 (37), 55 (40)-43 (43), 69 (63)-0
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