Who’s who at the UK Snooker Championship

BARRY HAWKINS v LIANG WENBO

Barry Hawkins
World ranking: 17
Date of birth: 23.4.79
Lives: Ditton, Kent
Ranking titles: 1
Highest tournament break: 147

Won the biggest title of his career to date when taking the Australian Goldfields Open at the start of this season, beating Peter Ebdon 9-3 in the final. Also a winner of the Snooker Shoot-Out in Blackpool. At the Crucible in April, scalped Mark Selby 10-3 before losing 13-11 to Matthew Stevens. Nicknamed the Hawk.

Liang Wenbo
World ranking: 42
Date of birth: 5.3.87
Lives: Hei Longjiang, China
Highest tournament break: 147

Edged past Anthony McGill 6-5 and then crushed Andrew Higginson 6-0 to reach the Barbican. Biggest success to date for the left-hander came three years ago when David Gilbert, Peter Ebdon, Ali Carter, Ricky Walden and Shaun Murphy made way as the Chinese player reached the final of the Shanghai Masters. Keen football fan.

JOHN HIGGINS v MICHAEL HOLT

John Higgins
World ranking: 3
Date of birth: 18.5.75
Lives: Wishaw, Lanarkshire
Ranking titles: 25
Highest tournament break: 147

Form couldn’t be any more different compared with a year ago. Comes into the UK having come back from 7-2 down against Judd Trump to win the Shanghai Masters, his 25th ranking tournament success. The four-time World Champion has been sparring with Trump on various occasions this season, beating him in a PTC event before losing to the Bristol potter in the recent Bulgarian Open. The Wizard of Wishaw has won the UK on three occasions.

Michael Holt
World ranking: 29
Date of birth: 7.8.78
Lives: Nottingham
Highest tournament break: 145

Beat Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 6-1 to qualify. Has continued to climb the world rankings after ending the 2011/12 season at 33. Beat Dominic Dale 4-2 in the final of PTC ten in Sheffield last year having earlier seen off Jamie Cope and John Higgins. A Nottingham Forest fan.

DING JUNHUI v RYAN DAY

Ding Junhui
World ranking: 10
Date of birth: 1.4.87
Lives: Sheffield
Ranking titles: 5
Highest tournament break: 147

Announced his arrival during a stunning run at York in 2005 which brought him the UK Championship crown. He’d already won a ranking tournament, beating Stephen Hendry 9-5 in the Chinese Open, but it was in front of the TV cameras he really shone. Steve Davis was his victim in the final – defeated 10-6. Last season was a mixed one. He won his fifth ranking title at the Welsh Open, beating Mark Selby 9-6, but lost in the first round of five of the eight main ranking events.

Ryan Day
World ranking: 22
Date of birth: 23.3.80
Lives: Pontycymmer, Mid-Glamorgan
Highest tournament break: 145

Qualified with a 6-3 win over Matthew Selt. Made a splash at the Crucible last year, recovering from a 9-6 deficit to shock Ding Junhui 10-9 in the first round.

STEPHEN MAGUIRE v FERGAL O’BRIEN

Stephen Maguire
World ranking: 7
Date of birth: 13.3.81
Lives: Milton, Glasgow
Ranking titles: 4
Highest tournament break: 147

Self-confessed fan of York whose biggest moment came in the Minster city when he lifted the UK Championship trophy eight years ago following a 10-1 demolition of David Gray. May feel he should have more ranking successes to complement his undoubted talent but is usually contending at the business end of tournaments. Lost to Judd Trump 6-3 in the quarter-finals last year.

Fergal O’Brien
World ranking: 34
Date of birth: 8.3.72
Lives: Dublin
Ranking titles: 1
Highest tournament break: 143

Beat Anthony Hamilton 9-7 to win the British Open in 1999 and then made his first ranking final in eight years at the Northern Ireland Trophy in Belfast in 2007. Beat Dave Harold, John Higgins, Barry Hawkins, Mark Allen and Ronnie O’Sullivan before losing to Stephen Maguire. Led Paul Hunter 7-3 in the 2001 Masters before losing 10-9. Qualified for the UK Championship after beating Dave Gilbert 6-2.

GRAEME DOTT v MARTIN GOULD

Graeme Dott
World ranking: 13
Date of birth: 12.5.77
Lives: Larkhall, Glasgow
Ranking titles: 2
Highest tournament break: 147

Three times a World finalist, Dott won the biggest title in snooker in 2006 with an 18-14 win over Peter Ebdon and doubled his tally of ranking victories with a 9-5 win over Jamie Cope in the China Open the following year. Lost 18-13 to Neil Robertson at the Crucible two years ago and was runner up to O’Sullivan in Sheffield in 2004. Best run in the UK came at York in 2006 when he fell 9-7 to Stephen Hendry in the semi-final.

Martin Gould
World ranking: 20
Date of birth: 14.9.81
Lives: Pinner, Middlesex
Highest tournament break: 139

Difficult campaign which has seen him fall from 14 to 20 in the world rankings. That forced him to qualify for the UK Championship and he made it through thanks to a 6-3 victory over Ben Woollaston. Reached the last 16 at York last year – beating Leeds pro Peter Lines 6-2 before losing 6-4 to Shaun Murphy.

MARK SELBY v MICHAEL WHITE

Mark Selby
World ranking: 2
Date of birth: 19.6.83
Lives: Leicester
Ranking titles: 2
Highest tournament break: 147

Consistency has kept Selby towards the top of the rankings but the 29-year-old does not yet have the major title his talent deserves. The ‘Jester from Leicester’ has one semi-final appearance in the UK, in 2007, but has been knocked out at the second round stage in the last two years. Beat Mark Williams 10-9 to win the Shanghai Masters in 2011. Twice a winner of the Masters.

Michael White
World ranking: 40
Date of birth: 5.7.91
Lives: Neath

Young Welshman considered the natural heir to the likes of Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens. Has continued to surge up the world rankings. Qualified for a major tournament’s final stages for the first time thanks to successive 6-3 victories over Craig Steadman and former World Champion Ken Doherty.

SHAUN MURPHY v ROBERT MILKINS

Shaun Murphy
World ranking: 4
Date of birth: 10.8.82
Lives: Sale
Ranking titles: 4
Highest tournament break: 147

Winner of the UK Championship in Telford in 2008, the Magician’s best performance in York was last season when he reached the quarter-finals before bowing out 6-3 to Ricky Walden. Announced himself in stunning style when winning the World Championship as a 150-1 outsider seven years ago.

Robert Milkins
World ranking: 27
Date of birth: 6.3.76
Lives: Gloucester
Highest tournament break: 147

Qualified in a final-frame thriller with Rory McLeod 6-5. Finished last season ranked 36 in the world but has risen steadily since. Only player to have made a maximum in the World Championships qualifiers, having done so twice.

MARK DAVIS v CAO YUPENG

Mark Davis
World ranking: 16
Date of birth: 12.8.72
Lives: Hastings, Sussex
Highest tournament break: 143

Life begins at 40 for Davis who has finally secured a precious place in the game’s top 16. In good form to boot, having reached the semi-final stages of two ranking tournaments this season. Attributes much of his new-found success to work with coach, and former world champion, Terry Griffiths. Mugged 6-5 by Ding Junhui in the first round of the UK last season.

Cao Yupeng
World ranking: 65
Date of birth: 27.10.90
Lives: Guangzhou, China

One of the more promising younger players on tour. Capped debut season by reaching the last 16 of the World Championship, beating Mark Allen 10-6 in Sheffield. Lost 13-7 to Ryan Day in round two and did not earn enough ranking points to keep his place on the main tour, but was nominated for a return by the Chinese Association.

JUDD TRUMP v MARK JOYCE

Judd Trump
World ranking: 1
Date of birth: 21.8.89
Lives: Romford, Essex.
Ranking titles: 3
Highest tournament break: 144

Ascended to the top spot with victory in the International Championship in China. That was Trump’s third ranking tournament victory in 19 months and, having lit up the World Championship in 2011 on his way to the final, he won his first major title at York when beating Mark Allen 10-8 to lift the UK crown. Aside from losing to Higgins in a PTC event and being well beaten by Stuart Bingham in the Premier League, took the Bulgarian Open with a 4-0 drubbing of Higgins.

Mark Joyce
World ranking: 50
Date of birth: 11.8.83
Lives: Walsall
Highest tournament break: 143

Wins over Andy Hicks and Jamie Cope, both 6-4, booked berth at the Barbican. Best performance in a ranking event came two years ago in the UK Championship, then staged at Telford. After beating Steve Davis in the final qualifying round, he shocked Ali Carter and Judd Trump before his run was ended by Mark Williams 9-7.

ALI CARTER v STEVE DAVIS

Ali Carter
World ranking: 15
Date of birth: 25.7.79
Lives: Tiptree, Essex
Ranking titles: 2
Highest tournament break: 147

Suffers from Crohn’s disease and, after the condition flared up late last year, announced he would retire at the end of the season after being knocked out of the UK Championship. But, having won one match in the first six ranking events of the season, he rediscovered his form – after finding a new dairy and wheat-free diet, and went all the way to the World Championship final – losing 18-11 to Ronnie O’Sullivan. Won his first ranking tournament in 2009, beating Joe Swail 9-5, and also reached the World Championship final for the first time the year before, falling 18-8 to the Rocket.

Steve Davis
World ranking: 48
Date of birth: 22.8.57
Lives: Brentwood, Essex
Ranking titles: 28
Highest tournament break: 147

Legend of the game still belies his age to compete at the highest level. Came back from 4-0 down to beat Pankaj Advani in qualifiers and booked Barbican spot with a 6-2 win over Jamie Burnett. Six times a UK title winner – twice before it became a ranking event in 1984 – combines professional career with stint as respected pundit on BBC TV. The ‘Nugget’ , above, battles to keep his world ranking lower than his age.

MARK ALLEN v MARCO FU

Mark Allen
World ranking: 8
Date of birth: 22.2.86
Lives: Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Ranking titles: 1
Highest tournament break: 146
Made his major breakthrough in March 2012 by winning the Haikou World Open on Hainan Island in China – his first ranking title. Beat Jimmy Robertson, Judd Trump, Mark King and Mark Selby before a brilliant performance in the final to beat Stephen Lee 10-1. Reached the UK Championship final last year, losing 10-8 to Judd Trump. Has become as renowned for what he says off the table as for performances on it.

Marco Fu
World ranking: 24
Date of birth: 8.1.78
Lives: Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Ranking titles: 1
Highest tournament break: 147
Too strong for Rod Lawler in the qualifiers, winning 6-2 to reach York. Match with Allen recreates last year’s quarter-final when Fu was edged out 6-5. Had earlier beaten Stuart Bingham and then world number one Mark Selby in what was his best run of the season. Has reached the Masters final, in 2011, and won the Grand Prix in Aberdeen in 2007 with a 9-6 victory over Ronnie O’Sullivan. A winner of the Premier League in 2003.

STUART BINGHAM v JACK LISOWSKI

Stuart Bingham
World ranking: 11
Date of birth: 21.5.76
Lives: Basildon, Essex
Ranking titles: 1
Highest tournament break: 147
Dominated Judd Trump 7-2 to win the Premier League last week – another hugely impressive victory. Won first ranking title, after 16 years of trying, last season when taking the Australian Goldfields Open with a 9-8 win over Mark Williams. That put him into the top 16 for the first time. Has consolidated that position.

Jack Lisowski
World ranking: 43
Date of birth: 25.6.91
Lives: Romford
Highest tournament break: 135

World Snooker rookie of the year in 2010/11, Lisowski qualified for the televised stages of the UK Championship with a 6-2 win over Chen Zhe and a 6-4 victory over Joe Perry. Second season didn’t hit the heights of the first. Diagnosed in 2008 with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma but, following gruelling bouts of chemotherapy, made a full recovery.

NEIL ROBERTSON v TOM FORD

Neil Robertson
World ranking: 6
Date of birth: 11.2.82
Lives: Cambridge
Ranking titles: 6
Highest tournament break: 147

Narrowly failed to win his seventh ranking title when beaten 10-8 by Judd Trump in the International Championship last month. Reached the semi-finals of the UK Championship last year where he was beaten by Trump. World Champion in 2010 after beating Graeme Dott. Australia’s most successful player, has also won the Masters. A fan of Chelsea FC.

Tom Ford
World ranking: 25
Date of birth: 17.8.83
Lives: Leicester
Highest tournament break: 147

Made the Barbican thanks to a 6-1 thrashing of Yu Delu. Winner of two PTC tournaments. Qualified for the Crucible for the first time in 2010. Last season won at least one match in seven of the eight main ranking events.

MATTHEW STEVENS v DOMINIC DALE

Matthew Stevens
World ranking: 14
Date of birth: 11.9.77
Lives: Carmarthen, Dyfed
Ranking titles: 1
Highest tournament break: 145

Finest hour came at York in 2003 when recovering from 4-0 and 7-5 down to beat Stephen Hendry 10-8 and win the UK Championship. Given his talent, it remains the only ranking tournament victory of his career. Twice a world finalist, Stevens reached the last 16 in York last year – beating Marcus Campbell 6-2 before exiting 6-5 to Ding Junhui. Hasn’t reached a ranking final since losing to Neil Robertson in Bahrain four years ago.

Dominic Dale
World ranking: 23
Date of birth: 29.12.71
Lives: Gloucester
Ranking titles: 2
Highest tournament break: 145

Led Judd Trump 4-2 in last year’s first round of the UK before the eventual champion won aided by a series of flukes. Locked horns with the world number one again at the Crucible, leading 7-6 before losing 10-7. Won ranking tournaments ten years apart in 1997 and 2007.

RICKY WALDEN v LUCA BRECEL

Ricky Walden
World ranking: 12
Date of birth: 11.11.82
Lives: Chester
Ranking titles: 2
Highest tournament break: 147

Last year’s UK Championship semi-finalist made a sensational start to this season when he beat Stuart Bingham 10-4 in the final of the Wuxi Classic in China. Having finished the last campaign at number 15 in the rankings, Walden has moved up to 12 and will be hoping to repeat last year’s Barbican heroics.

Luca Brecel
World ranking: 74
Date of birth: 8.3.95
Lives: Maasmechelen, Belgium

Prodigiously talented Belgian teenager who looks set to go far. Made history earlier this year by becoming the youngest player to compete in the World Championships at the Crucible. Having struggled for most of his debut season, he qualified for Sheffield just a month after he turned 17. Booked Barbican berth with eye-catching 6-1 hammering of Peter Ebdon.

MARK WILLIAMS v MARK KING

Mark Williams
World ranking: 5
Date of birth: 21.3.75
Lives: Ebbw Vale
Ranking titles: 18
Highest tournament break: 147

A double World Champion, Williams, pictured below, has also won the UK twice, including at York in 2002 in a 10-9 thriller against Ken Doherty. Has fallen from three to five in the world rankings and caused controversy last season when tweeting he hated the Crucible in Sheffield, the venue for the World Championships. Last ranking tournament win was over Mark Selby in the German Masters in 2011.

Mark King
World ranking: 32
Date of birth: 28.3.74
Lives: Braintree, Essex
Highest tournament break: 146

Qualified for the final stages of the UK with a 6-0 whitewash of Xiao Guodong. Lost 9-2 to Stephen Hendry in Welsh Open final of 1997 and 10-7 to Peter Ebdon in the Irish Masters in 2004.