MATTHEW STEVENS (Wales)

World ranking: 6
Last five seasons: 9-26-53-67-236
Date of birth: 11-09-77
Lives: Carmarthen, Dyfed
Turned professional: 1994
Ranking tournament victories: 0
Last season’s prize money: £481,115
Career prize money: £729,290
Highest tournament break: 145 - Grand Prix 1996

Matthew Stevens is still waiting to win his first world ranking tournament - yet he came so close last season to claiming the greatest prize snooker has to offer, the Embassy World Championship.

Favourite to make it through the top half of the draw after the early exits of Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan, he duly obliged as victories over Tony Drago (10-2), Alan McManus (13-4), Jimmy White (13-7) and Joe Swail (17-12) took him through to the first-ever all-Welsh final with good friend Mark Williams.

Stevens looked set for victory when he led 13-7 but Williams took 11 of the next 14 frames to triumph 18-16.

“I missed a black that might have taken me 14-7 up and after that Mark came back superbly, showing why he is world No 1,” said the sporting loser.

“But it was great experience for me and I am sure I will learn from it.”

Stevens’ consolation was a cheque for £140,000 - just enough to follow Williams’ lead and buy a Ferrari, only yellow rather than red!

The fluent break-builder from Carmarthen has also twice been beaten in the Liverpool Victoria UK Championship final, losing 10-6 to John Higgins in 1998 and 10-8 to Williams the following year.

But he has already proved he is a winner by completing a notable Masters double, defeating Higgins 9-7 in the final of the Regal Masters and then striking gold in the Benson and Hedges Masters at Wembley in February, beating Alan McManus, White and John Parrott before overcoming Ken Doherty 10-8 in a thrilling final to pocket a £165,000 first prize.

“This is the best moment of my snooker life; beyond my wildest dreams,” said Stevens after staving off Doherty’s fightback from 9-5 to 9-8 by compiling a break of 63 under the utmost pressure.

His Wheels in Motion manager Geoff Faint is in no doubt that his young charge will go on to even bigger things, saying: “Matthew has a very bright future and will be a top player for many years to come.

"He is still gaining experience but he showed against Ken that he has the big-match temperament.”