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Mark J Williams took up snooker after a short
amateur boxing career. He has a tattoo of a Welsh dragon on his thigh.
Ronnie O'Sullivan is as speedy off the table as
he is on it - a few years ago he was stopped by police on the M3 driving at
123mph.
When Alex Higgins beat John Spencer 37-32 at
Selly Park British Legion in 1972, his winnings were just 400 pounds.
Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood is a pal of Jimmy
White. The Manic Street Preachers and UB40 are also big snooker fans.
Stephen Lee's pet parrot died after a visit
from a TV crew - but Lee went on to succeed by winning the Grand Prix.
John Parrott is the oldest player in the top 10
rankings, aged 34. In 1976, the average age was 41; now it's 27.2.
The longest best of 25 frame match at the
Crucible is 13 hours 20 minutes - between Dennis Taylor and Terry Griffiths
in 1993.
The latest finish to a pro-match was 4.31am
when Joe Johnson beat Peter Ebdon in the 1996 International Open.
Tony Drago has made the fastest century - three
minutes and 31 seconds against John Higgins in the last 16 of the 1996 UK
Championship.
When Steve Davis is not practising he enjoys
nothing more than adding to his extensive collection of obscure soul
records, tapes and discs.
Stephen Hendry is a Formula One fan - Michael
Schumacher is his favourite.
Between 1946 and 1949 the world final was best
of 145 frames and took as long as a fortnight to complete.
Alex Higgins lost in the first round in 1990 in
Sheffield - and punched the press officer in the stomach. Other offences saw
him banned in 1990-91.
Cliff Thorburn and Terry Griffiths produced the
latest finish at The Crucible, Thorburn winning 13-12 in the 1983 clash -
the time was 3.51 am.
Tai Pichit used a stage name when he played at
The Crucible in 1995 - his real name is Chuchart Triratanapradit.
John Parrott is the brother-in-law of footballer
Duncan Ferguson.
John Higgins is an avid Celtic fan. He broke
through to prominence by winning the 1993 Skoda Grand Prix.
Stephen Hendry boasts the longest unbeaten run
at The Crucible - 29 matches before he lost in the '97 final.
Fred Davis, who passed away on the eve of last
year's World Championship, reached the semis in 1978, aged 64.
The Championship has been staged outside the UK
only once - in 1970 when John Spencer returned home from Australia with the
trophy.
No first-time Champion has successfully defended his
world title in the modern era - here is where they slipped up:
J. Spencer (Apr 1970) Semi-Final lost to R. Reardon
R. Reardon (Nov 1970) Semi-Final lost to J. Spencer
A. Higgins (1973) Semi-Final lost to E. Charlton
T. Griffiths (1980) Second-Round lost to S. Davis
C. Thorburn (1981) Semi-Final lost to S. Davis
S. Davis (1982) First-Round lost to T. Knowles
D. Taylor (1986) First-Round lost to M. Hallett
J. Johnson (1987) Final lost to S. Davis
S. Hendry (1991) Quarter-Final lost to S. James
J. Parrott(1992) Quarter-Final lost to A. McManus
K. Doherty (1998) Final lost to J. Higgins
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