The Crucible Theatre will have a familiar face returning to its iconic stage, as Matthew Stevens battled through the final round of World Snooker Championship qualifying to book his spot. The Welshman, a two-time world finalist, edged out 2015 champion Stuart Bingham in a tense 10-7 victory.

For Bingham, the defeat is a significant setback. Ranked 17th in the world, just outside the automatic qualification cut-off, the 49-year-old was forced into the grueling qualifiers. The match turned on a dramatic moment when Bingham, trailing 5-4, was on course for a maximum 147 break. After potting 12 reds and 11 blacks, he missed the crucial 12th black, ending his run at 89 and shifting the momentum decisively in Stevens' favor.

Stevens, 48, capitalized, winning four consecutive frames to move to the brink of victory before sealing the win. "I can still play a little bit, which I proved today," said Stevens, who will make his first Crucible appearance since 2022. "It's nice to be back... I was relaxed and Stuart didn't play at his best, otherwise he would've beaten me."

The drama of qualification wasn't limited to that match. Iran's Hossein Vafaei secured his place for a fifth straight year with a 10-4 win over China's Gao Yang, while 22-year-old Antoni Kowalski of Poland made history. His 10-8 victory over Jamie Jones means he will become the first Polish player ever to compete at the World Championship finals, an emotional achievement that left him in tears. "I never cry," Kowalski said, "so that's the perfect explanation of what it means to me."