WINNING a world ranking tournament for the first time in his career after a dramatic Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship final in York gives Matthew Stevens double reason to celebrate this Christmas.

The 26-year-old Welshman, who hit back from 4-0 down to score a tense 10-8 victory over Stephen Hendry at a packed Barbican Centre last night, is soon to become a father. His partner Clare, who was in York to watch the final, is due to give birth in a month's time.

"We are going to have a fantastic Christmas and this victory has put the icing on the cake," Stevens said after his triumph.

"Probably 95 per cent of people watching thought it was all over when I was 4-0 down," said the world number 9. "Even I had doubts in my mind. But I nicked a frame and started to relax and enjoy playing.

"Even if I don't win another title ever, I have won this one, the second biggest in snooker. I'm delighted."

Stevens dedicated the victory to his father, who died in February 2001. He was the one who first spotted his young son's snooker potential and took him round the country to play in pro-am tournaments.

When his father died, Stevens went into the doldrums for three years with his game but before this season he put in a lot of hard work to boost his career and he said his UK crown was the reward.

Hendry, attempting to win the UK title for a record sixth time, had looked virtually invincible in the early frames, with a break of exactly 100 in the second frame. From 4-0 up it started to go wrong for him.

The fifth was a pivotal frame. In potting a red Hendry failed to screw back far enough for pink, which was on the black spot. Instead he took on and sank a long blue but then missed red into a bottom corner and what had earlier looked like being a frame-winning break petered out at 39.

The Welshman took his chance and compiled a 66 break to start him on a run of winning five frames in a row, including a 137 clearance in the seventh.

The Scot took the first three frames last night, including a 101 break in the twelfth. He went on to lead 7-6 but on a break of 61 in the 14th he failed to pot black off its spot, which would have ensured him the frame. Stevens stepped in to clear up and steal the frame to level the match. He won the next two to need one for victory, but Hendry hit back with a superb 120 to make it 9-8. He was on for a 147 maximum after 15 reds and 15 blacks but got out of position after the last red and couldn't drop an impossible yellow

The seven-times world champion missed red into the yellow pocket in the 18th frame, allowing Stevens the chance to make a 49 break which ended with a missed red into a middle pocket.

Hendry kept his hopes alive with a 53 break but got out of position, bashed an awkward yellow off two cushions and left Stevens the chance to pick off the colours for glory.

The title-clinching shot was a far from easy pink. Stevens paused to dry his perspiring hands and steady his nerves before rolling it in to pocket the £84,500 first prize, the magnificent trophy and his first major crown

"Two shots cost me the match, one in the fifth frame and the black in the 15th," Hendry said afterwards. "Those two lapses in concentration did for me. I am gutted."

Updated: 08:40 Monday, December 01, 2003