Matthew Stevens hits semi-final stage after beating Ryan Day: 2012 World Snooker Championship
In an all-Wales quarter-final encounter of the 2012 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, Matthew Stevens played brilliantly to nudge his compatriot, Ryan Day, down by an easy score line of 13-5.
The Welshman has now booked his place in the semi-final stage of the tournament where he will be facing the former three-time World Snooker Champion, England’s Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The clash seemed a thrilling encounter in the beginning as both potters were playing outstandingly in the first session. However, with a classy snooker display, Day cruised into 2-5 lead at the end of the first session which put Stevens under immense pressure.
Day had a psychological advantage over Stevens due to an early lead and he was in superb form as well.
Nevertheless, the next two sessions showed a totally different picture as Stevens bounced back brilliantly into the game and clinched nine consecutive frames to reach 11-5 at the end of first-day proceedings at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
The Welsh Dragon took less than two hours to clinch two frames and ensure his victory over Day by the score lien of 13-5. He felt quite ecstatic after winning the quarter-final encounter.
While speaking to World Snooker in his post match interview, Stevens said, “I'd be lying if I said that I thought I'd get back here - to the semi-finals of the World Championship. It would mean everything to win it, but I feel I'm going to have to improve
if I'm going to go any further. It was tough to see Ryan struggle, but at the end of the day, you're here to do a job and thankfully I managed to do it.”
Day, on the other hand, concluded, “Last night was a complete shambles. I was quite pleased to be 5 - 3 up but last night was the undoing of me.”
Stevens’ next opponent in the semis is the Rocket, Ronnie O’Sullivan who trashed the 2010 World Snooker Champion from Australia, Neil Robertson in their Last-8 crucial match. Against an in-form cueman like the Essex Exocet, Stevens must pull up his socks
and give his best in the game.
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