Favourite Matthew Stevens gained the early advantage over qualifier Shaun Murphy in a tense and scrappy opening session of their Embassy World Championship final in Sheffield.

Qualifier Shaun Murphy and Crucible nearly man Matthew Stevens shared a tense opening four frames of the Embassy World Championship final in Sheffield.

Shaun Murphy has become the first qualifier to reach the Embassy World Championship final for 26 years after overwhelming Peter Ebdon 17-12 with a near flawless display.

Former world champion Ken Doherty has revealed his sadness after Ronnie O’Sullivan threatened to take a break from the game.

Peter Ebdon again showed his resilience in burying the memory of a disastrous second session to draw level with outsider Shaun Murphy in their Embassy World Championship semi-final.

Shaun Murphy produced a stunning comeback to storm into a 9-7 lead against Peter Ebdon and revive his hopes of reaching his first Embassy World Championship final.

Peter Ebdon has received the backing of Ronnie O’Sullivan’s mentor Ray Reardon as he looks to strengthen his grip on the Embassy World Championship semi-final with outsider Shaun Murphy.

PETER EBDON quickened the pace after his controversial go-slow against Ronnie O’Sullivan to seize early control of his Embassy World Championship semi-final with Shaun Murphy at the Crucible.

Ian McCulloch stunned new tournament favourite Matthew Stevens by opening up a four-frame lead in the opening session of their Embassy World Championship semi-final tonight.

Peter Ebdon quickened the pace after his controversial go-slow against Ronnie O’Sullivan to seize early control of his Embassy World Championship semi-final with Shaun Murphy.

Peter Ebdon played at express pace compared to his crawl against Ronnie O'Sullivan in seizing the early advantage in his Embassy World Championship semi-final against outsider Shaun Murphy.

Ronnie O’Sullivan claimed he will take a year off from snooker after losing his Embassy World Championship crown in a 13-11 quarter-final defeat to Peter Ebdon.

MATTHEW STEVENS maintained his consistent record of reaching the Embassy World Championship semi-finals yesterday, booking a place in the last four with a 13-11 victory over Stephen Hendry.

Matthew Stevens maintained his ultra-consistent record of reaching the Embassy World Championship semi-finals today, booking a place in the last four with a 13-11 victory over Stephen Hendry.

PETER EBDON could only sit and watch a Ronnie O’Sullivan masterclass yesterday - and admitted he was privileged to be sharing a table with the ‘Rocket’.

A break of 47 in tonight’s final frame spared Steve Davis the humiliation of losing his Embassy World Championship quarter-final against Shaun Murphy inside two sessions.

Peter Ebdon could only sit and watch a Ronnie O’Sullivan masterclass today - and admitted he was privileged to be sharing a table with the ’Rocket’.

A true clash of the generations over the next two days will produce an Embassy World Championship semi-finalist few people would have predicted.

SHAUN MURPHY created the biggest shock of this year’s Embassy World Championship so far when he produced a stunning performance to defeat John Higgins 13-8 in Sheffield.

Mark Williams joined another former winner, John Higgins, in slipping out of the Embassy World Championship at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre tonight.

Shaun Murphy created the biggest shock of this year’s Embassy World Championship so far when he produced a stunning performance to win 13-8 against John Higgins in Sheffield today.

Maximum man Mark Williams faces a battle to keep alive his hopes of a third Embassy World Championship title after falling behind second-round opponent Ian McCulloch in Sheffield today.

STEPHEN LEE took a commanding 6-2 lead over former world champion Peter Ebdon after the opening session of their best-of-25 second-round clash at The Crucible.

Ronnie O’Sullivan pondered how long he would stay in snooker after reaching the Embassy World Championship quarter-finals today – and perhaps he should look to Steve Davis for inspiration.

An overnight head-shave had anything but a Samson-like effect on Ronnie O’Sullivan as he powered his way into the Embassy World Championship quarter-finals in Sheffield today.

STEPHEN HENDRY gave himself a night off by trouncing Anthony Hamilton 13-3 with a session to spare to reach the quarter-finals of the Embassy World Championship.

Paul Hunter, who lost in the first round of the Embassy World Championship to Michael Holt on Monday, will begin treatment for cancer of the colon next week.

Stephen Hendry gave himself a night off by completing a 13-3 trouncing of Anthony Hamilton with a session to spare to reach the quarter-finals of the Embassy World Championship.

Graeme Dott, surprise runner-up in last year’s Embassy World Championship, crashed out in the first round at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre tonight.

STEPHEN LEE set up one of the most fascinating clashes of the Embassy World Championship second round when he completed a 10-5 victory over Malta’s Tony Drago in Sheffield yesterday.

Stephen Lee set up one of the most fascinating clashes of the Embassy World Championship second round when he completed a 10-5 victory over Malta’s Tony Drago in Sheffield today.

Ronnie O’Sullivan and Stephen Hendry are rarely overshadowed at the Embassy World Championship but they have so far been upstaged by Mark Williams.

MARK WILLIAMS became the first Welshman to make a maximum 147 break as he booked his place in round two of the Embassy World Championship yesterday.

Former world champion Peter Ebdon safely secured his passage through to the last 16 of the Embassy World Championship in Sheffield tonight with a comprehensive 10-2 victory over Quinten Hann – who was not playing with his own cue.

World number nine Stephen Lee is looking favourite to book his place in the last 16 of the Embassy World Championship having taken a commanding 6-3 lead over Maltese star Tony Drago.

Mark Williams became the first ever Welshman to make a maximum 147 break as he booked his place in round two of the Embassy World Championship this afternoon.

Stephen Hendry made heavy weather of reaching round two of the Embassy World Championship in Sheffield this afternoon.

John Higgins outscored and ultimately outwitted youngster Mark Selby to reach the second round of the Embassy World Championship in Sheffield today.

Paul Hunter, diagnosed as having cancer of the colon two weeks ago, became the highest-ranked player so far to exit the Embassy World Championship at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre today.

Shaun Murphy gained his first victory in three appearances at the Embassy World Championship by completing a 10-5 first-round win over 12th seed Chris Small today.

Steve Davis may not be a genuine Crucible title contender anymore, but he’s still the ultimate competitor.

Steve Davis left it late before booking his place in the second round of the Embassy World Championship last night.

Anthony Hamilton and David Gray face some unexpected overtime this evening to complete their marathon first-round game at the Embassy World Championship.

Ronnie O’Sullivan overcame a hesitant start to gain an invaluable first session lead over Stephen Maguire at the Embassy World Championship in Sheffield today.