Sporting Life
Matthew Stevens
Matthew Stevens

World Championship qualifying: Former runner-up Matthew Stevens books Crucible return; Martin Gould through

By Sporting Life
Snooker
Wed July 29, 2020 · 5y ago

Two-time World Championship runner-up Matthew Stevens sealed his Crucible return with a terrific 10-5 victory over Ricky Walden on Judgement Day.

Stevens was a beaten finalist in 2000 and 2005 and will be in the hat for the main draw again on the back of a much-improved season and two solid performances in qualifying.

Stevens was always in command having raced into a 4-1 lead thanks to breaks of 65, 51 and 61 and despite his best efforts and a high break of 104, Walden was always playing catch-up thereafter.

The latter did keep his hopes alive when reducing his arrears to 8-5 but Stevens kept his cool, winning the next two frames to ensure he will make his first appearance at the Crucible since 2018.

There will be no such return for 2006 world champion Graeme Dott who cut a frustrated figure at the conclusion of his match with Martin Gould, one he lost 10-6.

Dott has been a model of consistency all season, reaching the final of the World Grand Prix in February, but he was a long way from his best here as Gould dominated proceedings from the outset and knocked in a break of 127 in frame 11.

Anthony McGill cruised past Sam Baird 10-1, signalling his return to something like his best having only dropped two frames in qualifying.

Thepchaiya Un-Nooh will be in the first round proper for the third year running having only narrowly lost out to eventual winner Judd Trump in a dramatic encounter last year.

Thepchaiya came through a tough match with Liam Highfield, eventually prevailing 10-7, while veteran Mark King will join him at the Crucible having seen off Ian Burns 10-6.

Tom Ford beat Stuart Carrington 10-8 while Jordan Brown claimed the big scalp of Ryan Day to secure his safe passage, the youngster winning 10-6.

Round four - Tuesday July 28

  • Jamie Clarke 10-7 Sunny Akani
  • Jordan Brown 10-6 Ryan Day
  • Stuart Carrington 8-10 Tom Ford
  • Mark King 10-6 Ian Burns
  • Graeme Dott 6-10 Martin Gould
  • Matthew Stevens 10-5 Ricky Walden
  • Anthony McGill 10-1 Sam Baird
  • Liam Highfield 7-10 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh

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