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Biography

Matthew was born on the 11th of September 1977 in Carmarthen, Wales, he started to play Snooker at age 6, aged 9 started to play at his local club in Carmarthen on full size tables.

 

Aged 11 made his first century break and was winning junior events all over the country, Matthew tallent was so widly recognised that he had special dispensation to leave full time education at the all Welsh speaking school, Bro Myrddin Welsh comprehensive, before taking his exams to concentrate on his Snooker.

 

Matthew turned pro in July 1994 a few months before his 17th birthday, because he turned professional he was not allowed to represent Wales in the 1994 IBSF Amature World Championships and The European Youth Championships.

 

94/95

Semi-Finalist of the B&H Championship.

 

95/96

Won the B&H Championship after winning their satelite event to gain the wild card., last 16 at The Grand Prix, ended season ranked 67 from 236

 

97/98

Semi final of The Grand Prix & The UK Championship, quarter-finalist of the World Snooker Championships, ended season ranked in the top 32

 

98/99

Finalist for The UK Championship (Higgins 10-6), Quarter-Finalist World Snooker Championships, ended season ranked 9th

 

1998 voted Young player of the year by World Snooker

 

99/00

First main event title - The Regal Masters beating John Higgins, Mark Williams & Ronie O'Sullivan then finally beating Ken Doherty 10-8, Runner-Up UK Championships, Quarter-Finalist at The Welsh Open, The Scottish Open & The Thailand Masters, Winner of The B&H Masters (10-8 against Ken Doherty), lost to Mark Williams in the World Snooker Championships (18-16) ended season ranked 6th

 

01/02

WSC Semi-Finalist, leading Mark Williams 13-7 to eventually loose 18-16

 

02/03

Beat Stephen Hendry 10-8 to lift the UK Championship trophy, his first ranking event win which he dedicated to his late father Morrell Stevens saying that "If it wasn't for my dad, I wouldn't be here today, he took me up and down the country weekend-in, weekend-out to play in junior tournaments, which is where I got all my experiance"

 

03/04

January 6th 2004 Freddie Morrell Stevens was bord to Matthew and girlfriend Clare Holloway, he was a Semi-Finalist at the World Snooker Championships

 

Matthew won $500,000 at The 888.com Pacific Poker Open, runner up Phil "The Power" Taylor won $150,000

 

04/05

World Snooker Championships Finalish (against Shaun Murphy) Matthew lead 10-6, but lost 18-16

 

05/06

Northern Ireland Trophy Winner (Stephen Hendry 9-7)

Pot Black winner (Shaun Murphy 1-0)

 

06/07

World Snooker Championships Quarter-Finalist, lead Shaun Murphy 12-7, lost 13-12

Matthew dropped out of the top 16 for the first time after 8 years in the elite group.

 

08/09

June 2008 Ollie Patrick Stevens was born

Finalist for The Bahrain Championship lost to Neil Robertson (9-7) this was the first and last time this event was held

 

09/10

Matthew did not reach the latter stages of any event this year but was consistant and was able to gain enough ranking points to keep his position on the rankings stable to give him a good foothold for the 2010/2011 season

 

10/11

 

PTC 1 - L128 - beat Chris Norbury 4-1, L64 - beat Joe Swail 4-2, L32 - beat Igor Figueiredo 4-2, L16, lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-1

 

PTC 2 - L128 - beat Robert Valiant 4-0, L64 - beat David Grace 4-3, L32 - lost to Ricky Walden 4-1

 

PTC 3 - L128 - beat Damian Wilkes 4-0, L64 - lost to Barry Hawkins 4-2

 

PTC 4 - L128 - beat James Wattana 4-1, L64 - beat Mike Dunn 4-3, L32 - beal Alan McMannus 4-0, L16 beat Stephen Lee 4-1, Quarter Finals got beat by Mark Williams 4-1

 

EPTC 1 - R1 - Beat Tonnie Kok 4-0, Last L64 - Lost to Mark Davis 4-1

 

Qualified for The World Open

 

According to the ranking lists on ProSnookerBlog.com he is provisionally ranked 16th and 4th in the one year rankings.

 

Other Info

Matthew is listed 12th on the century breaks table having made 188 competative centurys although that illusive 147 is yet to be made, Matthew missed a 147 chance in the 2005 WSC when he lost position on the brown in the final dash, he ended up potting the brown which left him with a long blue to left bulk which he missed. He has had 2 145 breaks in GP 1996 & WSC 2001, he has made a 147 in the 1998 Buckleys Pro-Am but this is not classed as a professional event.

 

Favourites

Type of Snooker Cue - Hunt and Oburne

Highest ranking - 4th

Nickname - The Welsh Dragon