Matthew Stevens Out . . . But Jamie Jones Battles Back At The Crucible

By Simon Kendal-Williams

Matthew Stevens crashed out of the Betfred World Snooker Championship as Kyren Wilson displayed the form which has catapulted him into the world’s top ten.

It was always going to be a huge ask for the Welshman, Wilson having stamped his authority on their first-round clash by opening up a 7-2 overnight lead at The Crucible in Sheffield.

A break of 121 stretched the 26-year-old’s lead further, before Stevens rallied to take the 11th frame with a gutsy 68 clearance.

But Wilson edged the next to put himself within sight of victory, and duly completed a convincing 10-3 win to book his place in the second round – where he has every chance of facing another Welshman.

Jamie Jones endured a torrid start to his clash with world number eight Shaun Murphy.

The 30-year-old won just one of the opening six frames as the 2005 champion took control, firing a tournament-best 137 break in the process.

Jamie Jones. Pic: Getty Images.

But Neath native Jones rallied to take the final three frames of the session, breaks of 94 and 114 leaving the world number 51 trailing 5-4 overnight.

The pair resume at 2.30pm on Monday, when Jones will seek inspiration from his only previous meeting with Murphy at the Crucible – a 10-8 first-round victory in 2012.

Earlier on Sunday, tournament favourite Ronnie O’Sullivan completed an impressive comeback against Stephen Maguire.

Trailing 6-3 overnight, ‘The Rocket’ lost only one further frame on his way to winning 10-7.

The five-time world champion will meet Ali Carter in the second round, who also overturned a 6-3 deficit before seeing off 2006 champion Graeme Dott 10-8.

Tuesday sees Mark Williams in action against qualifier Jimmy Robertson, while Ryan Day takes on world number 14 Anthony McGill on Wednesday evening.