He is also the lowest ranked player, at number 48, in the sport’s history to reach the final and began the tournament at odds of 150-1.

Murphy, who father Tony is a World Snooker board member, was already guaranteed more than eight times his previous biggest pay day in reaching the final – £15,000 (€22,000) for reaching the first round in 2003 – and he made a confident start.

Runs of 39 and 24 left Stevens needing two snookers and, although he obtained both of them, Murphy was able to clinch a 32 minute opening frame.

Both players agreed to change the cue ball because of it appearing not to be pure white in colour before the second frame.

Stevens quickly got back on level terms with a break of 68 which left Murphy needing snookers and an immature shot by the Rotherham-based player cost him the next.

Murphy tried to swerve around the black in an effort to pot a red when already 23 points in arrears and only succeeded in leaving it over the pocket.

In stepped Stevens, who looked to be cueing as smooth as silk, for a 60 clearance to the black to edge in front.

The Welshman, who began the match as favourite at 4-7 on with the bookmakers, was looking to finally triumph on snooker’s biggest stage after previously losing the 2000 final and three semi-finals.

Murphy was missing some of the long pots which he had swallowed up throughout the tournament although both players missed chances in the final frame before the interval.

But a stroke of good fortune for Murphy, fluking the final pink after attempting double into the middle pocket, brought him level.