Matthew Stevens asked for selfie by Dechawat Poomjaeng during epic World Championship snooker win – 'He's a lovely guy'
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ByEurosport
Updated 08/04/2023 at 09:26 GMT
Matthew Stevens has seen it all at the World Championship having twice lost in finals at the sport's main event, but the former UK and Masters winner has probably never been asked to pose for a selfie by a rival during a match. Likeable Thai player Dechawat Poomjaeng was up for a picture between sessions as Stevens won an epic 10-8. "It is good to have characters like that in the game," he said.
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Matthew Stevens completed an epic 10-8 win over Dechawat Poomjaeng in World Championship qualifying with his good-natured opponent marking the occasion by asking for a selfie during their taut second-round battle.
Poomjaeng qualified for the Crucible a decade ago and will have to wait a year for another attempt to return to the sport's biggest stage after the two-time finalist Stevens managed to edge through at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
The Welshman had led 6-3 after the opening session and was happy to pose for a picture with the Thai crowd-pleaser, but was pushed all the way as 'Mr Poombastic' closed to 8-7 and 9-8 before Stevens staggered over the line on the final black of the 18th frame.
He needed two snookers to prevent a final-frame decider, but the former UK and Masters holder got them before producing a classy 34 clearance to win just before midnight on Friday.
Stevens will progress to a meeting with compatriot Jamie Clarke in the penultimate round of qualifying on Sunday and Monday, but admits he was put through the wringer by Poomjaeng's level of play, unpredictable style and matchplay ability to slow the pace.
“He’s a character and a lovely guy," said Stevens, who hit breaks of 88, 58, 56 and 53 with his opponent contributing 98, 91, 66 and two 55 knocks.
"Even at the end, he must have been so disappointed, but he wished me all the best. It is good to have people like that in the game.
"Not at 36 seconds a shot mind like it was in the first session, but to be fair he is a class player, knows his way around the snooker table and is a tough player to get rid of.
“I’m laughing one minute and then nearly crying the next. It was such a long day. It was looking like 9-9 and if I’d lost that it would have been a tough one to take.
"But I’ve got loads of scars from games like that so I would probably have taken it alright."
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