: The tournament also featured a rare maximum break by Mark Williams in the first round, adding to the event's prestige.
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.
The "Magician’s" Masterpiece: Remembering the 2005 World Snooker Championship World Snooker Championship 2005
: At 22, he became the second-youngest winner in history, trailing only Stephen Hendry.
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. : The tournament also featured a rare maximum
: 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.
: Murphy became the first qualifier to win the title since Terry Griffiths in 1979. : This was the last ever tournament sponsored
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