Matthew Stevens achieved a landmark triumph at the 2003 Travis Perkins UK Championship as he scored the first ranking event title of his career.

Long considered the finest player never to win a ranking tournament, he finally broke his duck after ten years as a professional. Victories over Gerard Greene, James Wattana, close friend Paul Hunter and Jimmy White set up a clash with Stephen Hendry.

The Scottish snooker legend dominated the early stages of the final at the Barbican Centre in York and raced into a 4-0 lead. But Stevens hit back to lead 5-4 after the first session and completed the job in a thrilling evening session, winning 10-8.

He dedicated his success to father and mentor Morrell, who died in 2001. "If it wasn't for my dad, I wouldn't be here today," said the Welshman. "He took me up and down the country, weekend-in, weekend-out to play in junior tournaments, which is where I got all my experience.

"I went off the rails for a couple of years after my dad passed away. Snooker didn't mean anything to me any more; I just turned up to play. I've been in the doldrums for two years watching everybody else get the glory. But I put a lot of hard work in on the practice table this summer and now I've got my reward.

"The UK Championship is snooker's second-biggest tournament. My name will always been on the trophy and it's a very proud moment for me."

There was a further celebration for the Carmarthen player in the New Year as partner Claire gave birth to their fist child, son Freddie Morrell. Sleepless nights may have contributed to a dip in form for Stevens as he failed to win a match until the Embassy World Championship came around in the spring.

The Crucible has often brought the best out of Stevens and he proved his Sheffield pedigree again with wins over Wattana, Hunter and Joe Perry to reach the semi-finals. He was strongly fancied to get through to the final, but succumbed to gritty Scot Graeme Dott 17-15.

Stevens said he remained happy with his season, having moved three places up the ranking list to No 6.

In 2000, Stevens went all the way to the final at the Crucible. He built a 13-7 lead over fellow Welshman Mark Williams then missed a black which could have put him further ahead. That proved to be the turning point as Williams stormed back to win 18-16. The man from Carmarthen had to settle for a runners-up cheque for £140,000 - most of which he spent on a yellow Ferrari.

He proved his quality on the big stage earlier that year when he struck gold in the Masters at Wembley Conference Centre as he edged out Dubliner Ken Doherty 10-8 in a thrilling final to take the £165,000 first prize.

That completed a superb Masters double for Stevens, who had beaten Higgins 9-7 in the final of the Regal Masters earlier in the season.