Stevens looking to get back to top form (From Campaign Series)

Stevens looking to get back to top form

6:20am Wednesday 4th February 2009 in Latest sport

THE name Matt Stevens has featured in some unwelcome headlines in recent weeks but, unlike his rugby namesake, Welsh snooker ace Matthew Stevens was earning some positive PR in Newport at the weekend.

The Carmarthen-born world number 17 was at Newport Market taking on members of the public to help launch the 2009 Welsh Open, which runs from February 16-22 at the Newport Centre.

And the former world number four is looking forward to playing in front of a patriotic home crowd.

“I played a couple of frames with people and my son had a go too, it was good fun,” said Stevens.

“It's always nice to come back to Wales. There is a little bit of added pressure with the home crowd because you want to do so well but the Wales Open is one of my favourite tournaments and Newport is a great venue.

“My mum will be there to watch too and I hope I can improve my record in the tournament, because I haven't done brilliantly in the past.”

Stevens has suffered a lean time since the heady days of 2000 to 2005 when he was twice runner-up in the World Championships in Sheffield and won the UK Championship.

But he made the final of the Bahrain Open in November last year and the 31-year-old is still confident that good times are around the corner.

“It was great to get to the final in Bahrain, even though I lost to Neil Robertson,” he said.

“It was a good sign and I'm hoping to do well in Newport and then concentrate on qualifying for the World Championships.

“Assuming I get there I'll be looking for a slightly easier draw than last year when I lost to John Higgins.”

And Stevens will be calling on his experiences as a pro-celebrity poker player to improve his chances, having won £260,000 in 2004 after beating darts champ Phil Taylor in a televised Texas hold 'em tournament.

“I do play quite a bit. It's a great game involving lots of skill,” he said. “There are similarities with snooker because you try not to give anything away with your facial expressions and that is the same as hiding your disappointment after missing a shot so I'm hoping it helps.”