Stevens takes control
ByReuters
Published 01/05/2007 at 22:00 GMT
Matthew Stevens, twice a losing finalist, is just two frames away from securing a place in the semi-finals of the world snooker championship after taking a commanding 11-5 lead over Shaun Murphy.
SNOOKER; Matthew Stevens; 2007
Image credit: Imago
Murphy, who beat Stevens in the final two years ago, came back from 3-0 down to draw level at 4-4 at the end of the opening session.
The evening session belonged to Stevens, however, with the Welshman compiling breaks of 81, 62, 61, 57 and 52 as he moved six frames clear.
Barring a stirring comeback from Murphy, Stevens now looks poised to seal victory when the best-of-25-frames match concludes on Wednesday morning.
Scotland's Stephen Maguire maintained his two-frame lead over Anthony Hamilton at the end of the second session in their match, going 9-7 up overnight.
With a 5-3 lead at the resumption of play, Maguire compiled a superb 143 clearance in the 10th frame - the highest break of the tournament so far.
Hamilton, who has never been ahead in the match, claimed a scrappy final frame of the evening to set up an interesting conclusion to the match on Wednesday afternoon.
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