Matthew Stevens can he return to form ?

[Matt_2745]

Yeah absolutely, I mean like I say it would depend on how well his results go. As things are at the moment he is on the verge of winning his third world title and is over 5,000 points clear on the one year list so playing like that I'd not expect him to be going anywhere in a hurry!

Guess I'm just saying that based on his podcast with Dave Hendon that went up a couple of months ago, I can't exactly see him doing a Steve Davis...

[crucible77]

i hope he makes it back but i cant see him ever being top 8 again

he never fulfilled potential and only won the uk and masters didnt he? (i wasnt very old around this point so thats a rough guess)

i think when the lat great Paul Hunter passed on it finished Stevens, because after that he really started to drop unfortuanetly

[millwall32]

he will be back - talent says so.

That's kind of he point isn't it?
Talent isn't enough anymore otherwise drago and white would still be in the top 16.
need a bit more nowadays....

[João]

He's surely earning more from card games so why invest time on snooker? His class may be permanent but his form will never be the same again.

I predict a fast slide down the rankings.

[Zoe]

I have been looking at Matthew Stevens' record in the World Championship since 2000 and he does seem very unlucky not to have won at least one of them.

2000: Led Mark Williams 13 - 7 in the final, lost 18 - 16.

2001: Lost to John Higgins 17 - 15 in semi-final.

2002: Led Peter Ebdon 16 - 14 in semi-final, needed just one red to leave Ebdon needing snookers, missed it and Ebdon won 17 - 16.

2004: Lost to Graeme Dott 17 - 15 in semi-final.

2005: Led Shaun Murphy 10 - 6 in final, lost 18 - 16.

2007: Led Shaun Murphy 11 - 5 and 12 - 7 in quarter-final and lost 13 - 12.

[Monique]

Well zoe the number of times he had a big lead and still lost it speak more of a weak mental than bad luck. Sorry for Stevens fans.

[João]

2007: Led Shaun Murphy 11 - 5 and 12 - 7 in quarter-final and lost 13 - 12.

The big turning point on his career I think.

[Mal]

The big turning point on his career I think.

His career was on the slump before that. That was the season he dropped out of top 16, so he did well getting to the QF. However, if he had of won that match, perhaps he could have arrested the slump.

[circle]

He can return

But his destiny is in his own hands, dedication and hard practice. Im sure some pros used to have extravagant lifestyles, with less money in snooker now who knows what financial pressure some players may be under?

I believed he was a better player than williams but not quite so driven and determined. It is possible his final losses and semi to ebdon were down to a touch of complacency, as he thought the job was done!

Also, it always seemed as though he cued across the ball, maybe as he gets older his alignment and natural talent can no longer compensate enough to play at his best.

[cueman]

He is similar to Jimmy White IMO. A very naturally talented player who probably doesn't put in the effort either in practice or in his matches and lets his head go down to easily when things aren't going for him. Just like White I think he lacks bottle as well to get over the line in important matches and now that he is having to qualify for the main TV stages of events that pressure has been too much for him.

Also think he is very weak tactically, if he isn't scoring or knocking the long ones in he is very likely to lose because his safety will never be good enough to win those scrappy frames.

Would never rule out a return to form though, you don't get lucky in reaching the world finals he has and winning the UK and Masters titles. However I think its more down to how much he wants it rather than does he have the ability to.

[Looki]

However I think its more down to how much he wants it rather than does he have the ability to.

I agree with that. He often seems like he's lacking the 'fighting spirit' or 'killer instinct' or whatever... It must have been different before since he has some great titles under his belt.

I may be very wrong too..

[Rane]

The big turning point on his career I think.

I think it was when he lost to Murphy as a huge favorit. Even though Murphy was a promising name, it was the biggest surprise since Joe Johnson won against Steve Davis.

[circle]

lol

why was it a surprise, he had already bottled one world final!

[spike]

I agree with that. He often seems like he's lacking the 'fighting spirit' or 'killer instinct' or whatever... It must have been different before since he has some great titles under his belt.

I may be very wrong too..

i just think he has other interests outside of Snooker, and as a result his Snooker is suffering because of that. I totally agree with you about the lack of "fighting spirit" from Matthew...and when he loses a lot of the time i never seem to notice in his face or body language that he comes across as "gutted" or "disappointed" like many other players seem to be when they have lost. just my opinion of course..

[Looki]

...and when he loses a lot of the time i never seem to notice in his face or body language that he comes across as "gutted" or "disappointed" like many other players seem to be when they have lost. just my opinion of course..

Yes, I agree. I haven't seen him in early 2000s or before that so I don't was it different before . Must have been because I don't believe that you take such a big titles for fun, you must be dedicated to win.

Anyway, it seems now that it doesn't mean that much to him anymore. Like it doesn't matter whether you lose or not... Hope I'm wrong.