Stevens to face Murphy in world final

Welshman Matthew Stevens will meet English qualifier Shaun Murphy in the final of the World snooker championship.

Stevens went through to his second world final with a 17-14 win over England's [Images] Ian McCulloch while Murphy advanced after a 17-12 victory over eighth seed Peter Ebdon.

Sixth seed Stevens took the opening frame on the resumption on Saturday morning to grab a 9-8 lead, the first time he had been in front in the match. McCulloch, though, battled back from 12-10 down to level at 12-12 going into the final session.

The Welshman claimed the first frame of the evening to edge in front again. He then had a chance to record a maximum 147 break in the 27th but failed to pot the blue after finding himself out of position.

Stevens, who lost the 2000 world final, went 15-13 ahead after the unseeded McCulloch went in off the black before winning two of the next three frames to clinch victory.

"It was a hard battle all the way through the match because Ian never gave up," Stevens told reporters.

Looking ahead to his meeting with the unseeded Murphy, Stevens said: "He's playing fantastic at the moment. It's going to be a very entertaining final because we both go for our shots."

McCulloch said: "Matthew deserved to win overall. I've got to hold my hand up and say I've lost to a better player.

"I hope he now goes on and wins it because he's gone close on several occasions."

Earlier, 22-year-old Murphy overcame fellow Englishman Ebdon to become the first qualifier to reach the final since Welshman Terry Griffiths in 1979.

The pair resumed at 12-12 and Murphy reeled off the first five frames of the last session.

"I've been told for a long time that I had the talent to make it to the final of the world championship, and now I have it is a dream come true," said Murphy.

"Before the final session, I didn't manage to eat anything in the morning or at lunch. But once my hand touched the green baize, I felt at home.

"I'm going to be going all out to win it in the final. I'll try and play my natural game. With me getting married, I'll have a nice little nest egg if I win."

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