Martin Gould, a part-time casino croupier, scored a 10-4 victory over Matthew Stevens, the world championship runner-up in 2000 and 2005 and an ever present in the televised stages of the championship since 1998, in the final qualifying round at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield last night.

Gould, the world No63 from Pinner, compiled three centuries to secure a Crucible debut a month after beating Stephen Hendry in the Welsh Open at Newport.

"After I beat Stephen I watched the match again on TV for a reality check to check it really happened and it gave me a lot of confidence. To reach the Crucible is a lifelong dream," Gould said.