Stevens books Crucible spot

Former Crucible runner-up Matthew Stevens booked a return to the World Snooker Championship with a nail-biting 10-9 victory over Ireland’s Fergal O’Brien in a match decided on the final black.

Welshman Stevens, who lost to compatriot Mark Williams in the 2000 final and to England’s Shaun Murphy in 2005, was on the brink of going out at the final stage of qualifying when O’Brien built up a 59-1 lead in the deciding frame, aided by a fluked red.