Qualifier Murphy wins world title

English qualifier Shaun Murphy (picture) won the world snooker title on Monday night after completing a thrilling 18-16 victory over Welshman Matthew Stevens at the Crucible Theatre.

Murphy, ranked 48 in the world, became the first qualifier to win the tournament since Terry Griffiths in 1979.

It was a second defeat in a world final for Stevens, the sixth seed, who was beaten by Mark Williams five years ago.

After the match, Murphy told reporters: "What a fantastic match it was. I knew I had the capability to win."

The beaten Stevens praised Murphy's performance. He said: "It was a cracking match and he held himself together really well towards the end.

"I'm pleased with the way I played and it's credit to Shaun for the way he played. He's got a cracking future."

Stevens remains confident of winning the world title one day.

"I will win the tournament before I finish, it's just a question of when," he said. "I'm only 27 and I've got plenty of time."

Murphy came back from 10-6 down overnight, winning five out of the seven frames played in the afternoon, to trail by just a frame at 12-11 going into the final session.

Murphy produced a 107 clearance in the opening frame of the evening to level and then made a break of 55 in frame 25 to go in front for only the second time in the match.

Stevens responded with a 95 break to level at 13-13, but Murphy claimed the next two frames to regain the lead and he maintained his two-frame advantage at 16-14.

Following some high quality snooker from both players, Stevens knocked in breaks of 124 and 52 to level at 16-16.

But a run of 97 in the following frame saw Murphy edge ahead again and he clinched victory with an 83 break.

Murphy said his strong Christian faith helped him record a shock title win. He was a 150-1 outsider when the qualifiers got underway.

Murphy pointed to his religious beliefs as an important factor in reaching the top.

He said: "I started going to a church in Weston-super-Mare about six years ago and it touched something deep inside me.

"I liked everything I heard and it's given me something to believe in. It helps me focus more than anything."

His £250,000 prize-money contrasted sharply to his previous best of £15,000 when he made the first round at Sheffield in 2003.

Murphy will use some of the money on a new car and to pay for his honeymoon after he marries his girlfriend in July.

Murphy turned professional when he was 15 but he is only now realising his full potential.

Other victims on the way to Monday's title triumph included John Higgins, Steve Davis and Peter Ebdon, all former world champions.

World champions since 1971

1971 Spencer; 1972 A. Higgins; 1973 Reardon; 1974 Reardon; 1975 Reardon; 1976 Reardon; 1977 Spencer; 1978 Reardon; 1979 Griffiths; 1980 Thorburn; 1981 Davis; 1982 A. Higgins; 1983 Davis; 1984 Davis; 1985 Taylor; 1986 Johnson;

1987 Davis; 1988 Davis; 1989 Davis; 1990 Hendry; 1991 Parrott; 1992 Hendry; 1993 Hendry; 1994 Hendry; 1995 Hendry; 1996 Hendry; 1997 Doherty; 1998 J. Higgins; 1999 Hendry; 2000 Williams; 2001 O'Sullivan; 2002 Ebdon; 2003 Williams; 2004 O'Sullivan; 2005 Murphy.