Snooker World Championship: Player profiles

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Mark Selby (7/2)

 
Age: 33

Ranking: 1

Crucible best: Winner 2014 & 2016

The runaway world number one (pictured) arrives in Sheffield brimming with confidence having clinched the 11th ranking title of his stellar career by beating Mark Williams 10-8 to win the China Open at the start of the month.

It was the 33-year-old's fourth title of the season, but his first of 2017 and a timely reminder to his rivals that he is very much the favourite to make a successful defence of his Crucible crown.

The Leicester cueman beat city rival Tom Ford 4-2 to land the Paul Hunter Classic back in August, before thrashing Ding Junhui 10-1 to claim the International Championship for the first time.

Selby beat Ronnie O'Sullivan to earn his second UK Championship, while he has also reached the final of the Shanghai Masters and semi-finals of the European equivalent so once more has been a model of consistency.

He beat Ding to land the second world title of his career 12 months ago and while it has been notoriously difficult to defend in recent times, the signs are there that Selby will take some stopping.

He is a fine break-builder and is renowned as the best tactical player on the circuit. That recent win in Beijing means his game is in good shape and that he is battle-hardened so will certainly be the player the others have to beat. 

Judd Trump (7/2)

 
Age: 27

Ranking: 2

Crucible best: Finalist 2011

The flamboyant Bristol potter can rightly lay claim to being the most consistent player on the circuit this season.

Trump won the European Masters as he came from 8-6 down to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 9-8 in Bucharest, while the seventh ranking title of his career came in the recent Players' Championship in Llandudno when he reeled off six frames in a row against Marco Fu in the final to win 10-8.

He has also been in the final of the respective English, Welsh and Gibraltar Opens, plus the semi-finals of the International Championship and Scottish Open.

The left-hander arrives in Sheffield as favourite in many eyes, yet snooker's biggest prize still eludes him with his best performance to date being a beaten finalist in 2011 against John Higgins.

Yet surely it is only a matter of time before he breaks his Crucible duck.

The 27-year-old continues to be an attacking player, but a growing maturity now also sees him prepared to roll his sleeves up and engage in a safety battle as he looks to force a mistake from his opponent.

Trump has now been in 15 ranking finals but lost eight of them, so there are still question marks about his temperament in pressure-cooker situations ... and the Crucible is certainly one of those. 

Stuart Bingham (25/1)

Age: 40

Ranking: 3

Crucible best: Winner 2015

Stuart Bingham's 2015 World Championship triumph will long be remembered in Crucible folklore.

After turning professional in 1995, the Essex cueman had to wait until 2011 to claim his first ranking title when he beat Mark Williams 9-8 in the Australian Goldfields Open.

From journeyman to winner, it was a catalyst for Bingham culminating in his win at Sheffield when he overcame Robbie Williams, Graeme Dott, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump and Shaun Murphy in the final as he recovered from 8-4 down to win 18-15 and become only the second player - along with Ireland's Ken Doherty - to be a world champion as both an amateur and a professional.

Yet the pressure of being world champion seemed to weigh heavily on his shoulders and he had to wait almost two years for his next ranking success, beating Trump 9-8 to lift the Welsh Open title in Cardiff back in February.

After reaching the final of the China Championship this season plus the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters, English Open, International Championship and German Masters, Bingham will claim a title was nothing more than his consistency deserved.

Recent early exits at the Players' Championship and China Open suggest he is not firing on all cylinders, but knowing how to win at the Crucible is a priceless commodity and should stand him in good stead. 

Ding Junhui (14/1)

Age: 30

Ranking: 4

Crucible best: Finalist 2016

After winning an incredible five ranking titles in the 2013/14 season, the wheels spectacularly came off for Chinese superstar Ding Junhui.

His form dipped so badly that he dropped out of the top 16 and was forced to qualify for last season's World Championship.

He did so - and only dropped seven frames in the process - before showing no shortage of skill and determination to embark on a career-best run at the Crucible.

Ding beat Martin Gould, Judd Trump, Mark Williams and Alan McManus before losing 18-14 in the final to world number one Mark Selby.

This season has seen him win the Shanghai Masters and Six-red World Championship, reach the final of the International Championship and also the semi-finals of both the Players' Championship and Champion of Champions events.

Along with Trump, Ding is arguably the best current player not to have won the world title and with definite signs that he is getting back to his best he will hope to go one better in 2017. 

Shaun Murphy (22/1)

Age: 34

Ranking: 5

Crucible best: Winner 2005

Shaun Murphy will always have a place in the Crucible history books after his success there as a relatively unheard of 150/1 qualifier back in 2005.

Having to win two matches just to earn the right to play in Sheffield, Murphy then put out Chris Small before former world champions John Higgins, Steve Davis and Peter Ebdon were all beaten.

He took on Welshman Matthew Stevens in the final and won a hard-fought contest 18-16.

Since then another six ranking titles have followed - including the UK Championship and Masters to give him the career Triple Crown - and now the 34-year-old is a firmly-established member of the top eight.

He ended a drought of more than a year without a major title when he won the Gibraltar Open last month, beating Judd Trump 4-2 in the final.

The Harlow-born cueman has also reached the semi-finals of the Indian Open, UK Championship, Shoot-Out and China Championship plus four other quarter-finals so overall he has enjoyed a solid campaign.

While the Crucible is daunting for some, Murphy appears to be inspired by it with three final appearances, one semi-final and four quarter-finals so will expect another long run in 2017. 

John Higgins (12/1)

Age: 41

Ranking: 6

Crucible best: Winner 1998, 2001, 2007 & 2009

John Higgins is certainly one of those proving that snooker players do get better with age.

While there are plenty of young guns looking to make their mark in the game, the likes of Higgins, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Williams continue to show there is no substitute for experience.

The 41-year-old from Wishaw has again enjoyed a solid season, winning the China Championship, Champion of Champions and Championship League.

He was also a beaten finalist in the Scottish Open and a quarter-finalist in the World Open, European Masters, English Open, International Championship and UK Championship so consistency has not been an issue.

In total Higgins has won 28 ranking titles, including four world titles, three UK Championships and two Masters titles to make him one of the most successful players of all time.

Still a deadly long potter, prolific when among the balls and possibly the most tactically astute player on the circuit, 'The Wizard' will certainly start as one of the Crucible favourites. 

Barry Hawkins (14/1)

Age: 37

Ranking: 7

Crucible best: Finalist 2013

Kent potter Barry Hawkins has become something of a Crucible specialist in recent seasons.

In 2013, he beat Jack Lisowski, Mark Selby, Ding Junhui and Ricky Walden before losing 18-12 to defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final.

O'Sullivan was again his nemesis a year later, this time in the semi-finals, and in 2015 he once more reached the last four before bowing out to Shaun Murphy.

Last year he beat O'Sullivan for the first time in 11 meetings, but went out to Marco Fu in the quarter-finals.

The left-hander has been steady again this season, claiming the third ranking title of his career when he beat Ryan Day 10-7 to win the World Grand Prix.

He has also reached the final of the Northern Ireland Open as well as the semi-finals of the English Open, Masters and Championship League.

There is definitely something about Sheffield that inspires Hawkins and certainly the longer format suits his game so he will be looking for another good run this year. 

Marco Fu (20/1)

Age: 39

Ranking: 8

Crucible best: Semi-finalist 2006 & 2016

So much has been expected for so long from Marco Fu and he will be the first to admit that a player of his undoubted quality should have more than three ranking titles to his name.

Yet he arrives at the Crucible after one of the best campaigns of his career and after reaching the semi-finals 12 months ago, he will have hopes of doing even better and put the icing on a memorable 2017.

The start of the season is one he will want to forget in a hurry as he failed to get beyond the second round of the first eight tournaments he took part in.

The Hong Kong cueman finally found some form at the UK Championship where he reached the semi-finals and he took that to the Scottish Open in Glasgow where he beat home favourite John Higgins in the final - making 11 century breaks and 21 or more than 50 during his seven matches at the event.

Fu then reached the semi-finals of the Masters and World Grand Prix, before claiming a place in the final of the Players Championship where he was beaten 10-8 by Judd Trump.

A superb break-builder, it is consistency which has let Fu down in the past but the longer format games in Sheffield will suit him and he is without doubt one to watch on current form. 

Neil Robertson 11/1

Age: 35

Ranking: 9

Crucible best: Winner 2010

After a flying start to the season that saw him win the Riga Masters - the first event of the new campaign - and also reach the semi-finals of both the World Open and European Masters, it is fair to say that Neil Robertson's season has gone off the boil.

He has reached the quarter-finals of four other events since, but worryingly there have been plenty more early exits and that is not good enough for a man who has 12 ranking titles on his impressive CV.

The Australian left-hander - the only player to make 100 century breaks in a season - is, of course, a former Crucible winner having the lifted the trophy in 2010 when he beat Graeme Dott in the final.

However, since then he has reached the semi-final once, the last eight twice but lost three times in the first round.

Confidence must be playing a part in his current struggle for form but the 35-year-old - a former world number one - has an outstanding all-round game that you feel will not desert him for too long.

An outstanding long potter who loves to attack, you write him off at your peril. 

Ali Carter (50/1)

Age: 37

Ranking: 10

Crucible best: Finalist 2008 & 2012

The Essex potter was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2003 which he controls with a gluten-free diet, but the fact he has also twice beaten cancer shows the tremendous fighting spirit Carter possesses.

He has twice been a beaten finalist at the Crucible, in 2008 and 2012, losing on both occasions to Ronnie O'Sullivan but will believe he still has the game to go one better.

Certainly his form this season has been positive, winning the World Open back in July as he beat Joe Perry 10-8 in the final to claim the fourth ranking title of his career and his first since 2013.

It got him back into the world's top 16 and the qualified pilot has climbed steadily since after reaching the final of the German Masters where he lost to Anthony Hamilton, semi-finals of the Players Championship and last eight in both the Shanghai Masters and China Championship.

Carter has a fine all-round game and is now one of the most experienced players on the tour, but his greatest strength is that bloody-minded determination that means there is never a lost cause. 

Mark Allen (28/1)

Age: 31

Ranking: 11

Crucible best: Semi-finalist 2009

The Northern Ireland potter has been to the fourth round and beyond of no fewer than seven tournaments but is still searching for his first title.

His best performances have seen him reach the semi-finals of both the China Championship and Champion of Champions, but 'The Pistol' will be disappointed he has not at least given himself the opportunity to add to the three ranking titles currently on his CV.

The Crucible has not been a happy hunting ground for him, with his best run being back in 2009 when he was beaten 17-13 in the semi-finals by John Higgins after being 13-3 down.

But in his last five visits to Sheffield he has failed to get beyond the second round, losing 12 months ago 13-9 to Kyren Wilson after he had beaten Mitchell Mann 10-3 in his opener.

But Allen is a hugely gifted left hander who, when at the top his game, appears to make the white ball float around the table such is his control and while he has not had the best of seasons, he will feel he is capable of ending it on a high. 

Ronnie O'Sullivan (9/2)

Age: 41

Ranking: 12

Crucible best: Winner 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012 & 2013

The greatest snooker player of all time?

Well certainly a sixth world title would make that statement difficult to argue with and only the foolhardy would back against 'The Rocket' pulling it off.

Remember back in 2013 he took a break from the game and turned up in Sheffield having barely played in an event, only to pick up his fifth world crown by beating Barry Hawkins.

O'Sullivan arrives at the Crucible this year having been far more active on the circuit, wining a seventh Masters title in January and also reaching the finals of the European Masters, UK Championship and Champion of Champions.

His 'A' game remains better than that of any of his rivals but it appears he is finding it increasingly more difficult to produce on a consistent basis.

Genius is perhaps a word used too often in sport, but with 28 ranking titles in a stellar career plus records for most century and 147 breaks then O'Sullivan certainly lives up to that tag.

At 41, he seems to need a challenge to really get his cue arm going - but there is no bigger challenge than winning the biggest prize in the game. 

Liang Wenbo (100/1)

Age: 30

Ranking: 13

Crucible best: Quarter-final 2008

Liang Wenbo claimed the first ranking title of his career when he lifted the English Open in Manchester back in October.

He beat Graeme Dott, Shaun Murphy, Fergal O'Brien, Ben Woollaston, Anthony Hamilton and Stuart Bingham to set up a final with Judd Trump who was defeated 9-6.

Liang followed this up by reaching the quarter-final of the Scottish Open and semi-finals of the World Grand Prix where he was beaten by eventual winner Barry Hawkins.

He had reached the final of the Shanghai Masters back in 2009 and final of last year's UK Championship but he wil now hope he can really kick on and make his mark.

For much of the career he has been living in the shadow of fellow countryman Ding Junhui, but Liang is a fine player in his own right - a terrific long potter and a heavy scorer.

His Crucible best is reaching the last eight back in 2008, but at his best he can certainly improve on that. 

Kyren Wilson (33/1)

Age: 25

Ranking: 14

Crucible best: Quarter-final 2016

Last season saw him win the Shanghai Masters while ranked 54 in the world and claim the first ranking title of what promises to be a log and successful career in the game.

He also reached the semi-finals of the German Masters and Champion of Champions, plus the last eight at the Crucible, beating Joe Perry and Mark Allen, before bowing out to eventual winner and world number one Mark Selby.

The burning question was could he build on that successful breakthrough campaign?

Wilson's response has certainly been a positive one as he lost in the final of the India Open to Anthony McGill and has also progressed to the semi-finals of the Northern Ireland Open and recent China Open.

Wilson has great maturity and tenacity, both vital ingredients if he is to do well in Sheffield. 

Anthony McGill (100/1)

Age: 26

Ranking: 15

Crucible best: Quarter-final 2015

Two ranking title wins for McGill this season have earned him a spot in the world's top 16.

The 26-year-old came to prominence in the 2014/15 campaign as he reached the quarter-finals in both the UK Championship and the Crucible, but last season saw him fail to get beyond the third round of any of the main events.

But he made a flying start to the current campaign, reaching the last-eight of the Riga before beating Kyren Wilson 5-2 to win the Indian Open.

McGill also reached the quarter-finals of the World Open and European Masters before he ended a lean spell by winning the Shoot-Out in Watford.

He successfully qualified for the World Championship 12 months ago and put out Shaun Murphy in the first round, before bowing out to Marco Fu.

McGill is very level-headed and possesses a good all-round game. The longer format matches at the Crucible appear to suit him and he is certainly one to watch.

Ryan Day (150/1)

Age: 37

Ranking: 16

Crucible best: Quarter-final 2008, 2009 & 2012

The Welshman failed to qualify for the season's penultimate ranking event, the China Open, which meant a handful of players could overtake him and force him into the dreaded qualifiers.

Joe Perry made an early exit, Stephen Maguire reached the last eight to just miss out but it was Day's good friend and fellow Welshman who gave him the biggest cause for concern as he battled his way through to the final in Beijing.

Victory would have given Williams that precious 16th spot, but he went down 10-8 to Mark Selby to the relief of Day.

He has enjoyed a solid campaign and had the opportunity to win his first ranking title when he made the final of the World Grand Prix, but lost to Barry Hawkins.

Day also reached the final of the Championship League, semi-final of the Gibraltar Open and last eight in both the Shanghai Masters and German Masters.

At 37, he is one of the most experienced players on the circuit and has shown at times this season that when at his best he is capable of stringing results together.