Stevens on line for Masters

Snooker

Matthew Stevens will attempt to keep the Benson and Hedges championship in Wales today. The 18-year-old Camarthen player yesterday earned a superb 6-5 comeback win over Scunthorpe's Matthew Couch in the semi-final to stay on course for a Wembley debut next February.

Stevens missed out on a possible trip to the Benson and Hedges Masters 12 months ago when he lost in the penultimate round to Liverpool's Rod Lawler.

His fellow countryman, Mark Williams, went on to defeat Lawler in the final to give the Welsh their first success in the six-year history of the tournament.

Stevens is ranked 236 in the world but on the provisional list has risen to 57th following some great performances this season, including reaching the last 16 of the Skoda Grand Prix in Sunderland last month.