World Snooker Championship 2005 May 2026

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.

: 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. Before April 2005, Shaun Murphy was a 22-year-old

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 : At 22, he became the second-youngest winner

The final against world number six Matthew Stevens was a rollercoaster of momentum. Stevens, a two-time finalist, looked set to finally claim the crown when he took a commanding after the first day.

: Murphy became the first qualifier to win the title since Terry Griffiths in 1979.