Matthew Stevens' dramatic return to the World Snooker Championship ended in a 10-4 first-round defeat to Barry Hawkins at the Crucible Theatre. The Welshman had qualified for the tournament by beating Stuart Bingham 10-7, according to snooker reports. Barry Hawkins will now face the winner of the match between Mark Williams and Antoni Kowalski in the second round, as per tournament scheduling.
Stevens, a former UK Championship and Masters champion, reached two finals and three more semi-finals at the World Championship during the late 1990s and early 2000s, according to his career records. He lost 18-16 to Mark Williams in the 2000 final, a match widely remembered in snooker circles. Over the last decade, he has had few deep runs in tournaments and has settled into the middle rankings, based on ranking data. During his introduction at this year's event, he corrected MC Rob Walker, indicating he has been a semi-finalist four times, not three, as noted in coverage.
Well, I couldn’t win it when I was in my prime, so I can’t see me winning it, obviously.
According to Daily Express - Sport, Matthew Stevens described being lazy recently and said he has been saying that for the last 15 years. He revealed that instead of practicing, he watches old YouTube videos of himself winning, which sometimes gives him a lift. Stevens said he does not practice much before matches and estimated he has probably played three hours of snooker in six months, according to his own statements.
Stevens has a 'love-hate' relationship with the World Championship, he has said. According to Daily Express - Sport, he described playing in the one-table set-up at the Crucible six times, accumulating many scars but expressing no regrets beyond wishing for different results in a few matches.
Look at the players you’ve got to beat, the likes of [world champion Zhao] Xintong and all them players over three sessions. At the end of the day, I’ve probably got no chance of winning it.
In other first-round action, Zhao Xintong defeated Liam Highfield 10-7 to secure a spot in the second round, tournament results show. Mark Allen beat Zhang Anda 10-6 to also advance, as per match reports. Mark Williams leads Antoni Kowalski 6-3 heading into their evening session, with the winner set to face Barry Hawkins in the next round, according to live scoring.
This season, Stevens notably beat Judd Trump at the Xi’an Grand Prix, according to multiple reports. Stevens is 48 years old, according to major media reports.
I’ll just go there, and if I can cause an upset or two, then you never know what could happen.
Well, I keep saying it every year, but I haven’t done it. It’s just keeping it up, I suppose.
I’ve beaten Judd this year in China, and if you can beat someone like that, then it’s just being more consistent. I’m still a danger if I play well in any match.
I didn’t have many expectations coming here, really. I suppose when I won my first match against Peter [Lines], I obviously had the ranking points, and it’s that different mindset when you go into a match against Stuart.
He was a 1/4, 1/5 favourite and I looked at that and I thought, in my own mind, I don’t think that’s the right price. That gave me a little bit of a challenge, really, to prove people wrong. Motivation, definitely.
I’m nearly 50 now! That doesn’t help. I don’t play as much as I used to, but I relaxed today.
I’ve probably played three hours in six months, I found something today and played ok. Stuart didn’t play to his best otherwise he’d have beaten me. I can still play a little bit, which I proved today.
I've had so many good wins there. I've played in the one-table set-up six times I think, and I've got loads of scars from there, but I wouldn't change anything. I'd probably change one or two results, but that can't be helped.
I do enjoy playing but I've been a bit lazy recently. I've been saying that for the last 15 years so nothing's changed.
Instead of practising, I just watch old YouTube videos of myself winning, and sometimes it works and gives me a lift. I'll play a little bit [before my first-round match] but not much.
I keep saying [I can do damage at a tournament] but I haven't done it. It's just keeping it up, I suppose. I beat Judd [Trump] in China this year and if you can beat someone like that it's just about being more consistent. I'm still a danger if I play well and can win any match.