However, Murphy's "Magician" moniker began to take shape on the final day. He clawed back to level the match at 16–16 before showing incredible composure to win the final two frames, securing an . Match Statistics at a Glance: Shaun Murphy Matthew Stevens Final Score 18 Century Breaks 3 (High: 137) 1 (High: 124) Total 50+ Breaks Prize Money Data sourced from CueTracker . Why 2005 Mattered
: This was the last ever tournament sponsored by Embassy , ending a relationship with the sport that had lasted since 1976 due to new tobacco advertising laws. World Snooker Championship 2005
: At 22, he became the second-youngest winner in history, trailing only Stephen Hendry. However, Murphy's "Magician" moniker began to take shape
Before April 2005, Shaun Murphy was a 22-year-old qualifier who had never even won a match at the Crucible. Ranked 48th in the world, he entered the tournament as a massive outsider. Why 2005 Mattered : This was the last
His path to the final was a "who's who" of snooker legends. Murphy dismantled three former world champions to get there: (13–8) Steve Davis (13–4) Peter Ebdon (17–12) in the semi-finals A Final for the Ages: Murphy vs. Stevens
: Murphy became the first qualifier to win the title since Terry Griffiths in 1979.
The "Magician’s" Masterpiece: Remembering the 2005 World Snooker Championship