By Saj Chowdhury BBC Sport at The Crucible

Stevens showed his class

Stevens won the first frame of the final session with a 50 break after the match resumed at 12-12.

McCulloch hit back but his opponent then won three successive frames, narrowly missing on 147 in the 27th.

Plucky McCulloch won the next, but Welshman Stevens wrapped up matters in the 31st.

Stevens was 6-2 behind after the first session but hit back in style, winning six out of the next eight frames, before McCulloch drew level at 8-8.

"I'd forgotten about that - thanks for that, I'm on a downer now Stevens on his 147 miss More Stevens quotes

Earlier on Saturday, Stevens went into the lead for the first time in the match by winning the 17th frame.

McCulloch fought back in the next before a 77 gave him a 10-9 advantage.

Stevens then won the next three and looked set to increase the margin, but the dogged McCulloch had other ideas hitting back in the last two.

M STEVENS (Wal) 17-14 I McCULLOCH (Eng)

38-72 (61) 39-66 (53) 23-61 (57) 4-127 (127) 53-43 6-122 (122) 71-4 (56) 0-83 119-0 (58,61) 77-22 (62) 34-84 (72) 75-14 103-24 (83) 0-103 (99) 64-1 (64)

72-38 (59) 70-61 (54 McCulloch) 33-66 0-78 (77) 104-24 (74) 76-0 (76) 86-6 7-70 27-78 (58) 71-14 (50) 22-98 129-0 (129) 56-51 76-0 (76) 8-66 (65) 60-1