Matthew Stevens

Fergal O’Brien

What is the most important skill / quality for a snooker player?
Discipline
If not snooker - then what would you be doing now?
Probably working in a snooker club
Your toughest opponent ever?
Stephen Hendry is not too shabby
What are your thoughts on the current development of snooker in Mainland China?
It's fantastic. I was in Beijing in 1996 and they had a billiard school then, there was a sense it was ready to explode. Then Ding came along and he really helped, and there are many others like him coming through. It's brilliant for the game to have two ranking tournaments and maybe there will be more.
What would like to be remembered for once retired?
As being very handsome and a world champion! Seriously though, as someone who loved the game and always gave his best.
Who has influenced your career the most to date?
My dad
Do you have a routine or superstition before matches?
I always prepare the same way but I don't have lucky socks or anything like that, I try to avoid that kind of thing
The single best moment of your career?
Winning the British Open in 1999, beating Anthony Hamilton in the final.
Your favourite sport other than snooker? - to watch and participate in...
Golf

Nigel Bond

What is the most important skill / quality for a snooker player?
Technique
If not snooker - then what would you be doing now?
I'd probably be an accountant
Your toughest opponent ever?
Stephen Hendry
What are your thoughts on the current development of snooker in Mainland China?
It's fantastic and it's the way forward for snooker. I've heard that there's about 20 million people playing snooker there. Maybe in a few years we could even have an Asian Tour.
What would like to be remembered for once retired?
As a consistent performer throughout my career. And obviously for the tournaments I've won.
Who has influenced your career the most to date?
My dad, without him I'd never have got into snooker
Do you have a routine or superstition before matches?
No, I'm not a superstitious person
The single best moment of your career?
Winning the British Open in 1996, beating John Higgins 9-8 in the final
Your favourite sport other than snooker? - to watch and participate in...
Golf, my handicap is 10.

Ian McCulloch

What is the most important skill / quality for a snooker player?
The ability to win
If not snooker - then what would you be doing now?
Probably running a restaurant
Your toughest opponent ever?
Graeme Dott
What are your thoughts on the current development of snooker in Mainland China?
It's fantastic - the more tournaments there the better
What would like to be remembered for once retired?
As a player who achieved as much as he could and put in as much effort as he could
Who has influenced your career the most to date?
When I started watching snooker I loved Dennis Taylor. Over the last few years Dave Harold has been my biggest influence
Do you have a routine or superstition before matches?
No
The single best moment of your career?
Getting to the final of the Grand Prix in my home town of Preston
Your favourite sport other than snooker? - to watch and participate in...
I love darts and football

Scott MacKenzie

What is the most important skill / quality for a snooker player?
Mental toughness. All of the players have good technique but having belief in yourself makes the difference
If not snooker - then what would you be doing now?
I'd like to have been in the armed forces
Your toughest opponent ever?
Ryan Day
What are your thoughts on the current development of snooker in Mainland China?
There are some very good players coming through. Ding is the only one to have made a real impact so far, some of the others still struggle to get through the qualifiers at Pontin's. But in four or five years there will be more like Ding. Hopefully not too soon though!
What would like to be remembered for once retired?
I don't expect to be a top 16 player but I would love to get to a ranking final. Andrew Higginson showed last season at the Welsh Open that it can be done.
Who has has influenced your career the most to date?
My dad, 100 per cent. Without him I wouldn't be playing.
Do you have a routine or superstition before matches?
When I'm playing at Pontin's I always tidy the chalet and make the bed before I go to my match. I'm not the sort to leave a room in a mess. And if I'm on a winning run I always try to book the same practice time each day.
The single best moment of your career?
Beating Michael Holt 9-0 at the UK Championship last season was a great result. But probably my best moment was winning four matches to qualify for the Players Championship in 2004. I needed to qualify for the event to stay on the Tour. The last match was against James Wattana so I was playing for my professional status and winning that was a brilliant moment.
Your favourite sport other than snooker? - to watch and participate in...
golf

Dominic Dale

What is the most important skill / quality for a snooker player?
Dedication, because you can't get anywhere without it. Some people have a build-in dedication, while others have to work for it.
If not snooker - then what would you be doing now?
I used to work in the operations department of a police head-quarters and the Chief Superintendant wanted me to join the force, so maybe I would consider that.
Your toughest opponent ever?
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry
What are your thoughts on the current development of snooker in Mainland China?
The success of Marco Fu and Ding has really helped snooker to prosper in the far east and there are other very promising talents coming through. Chinese players will become more of a force in the future.
What would like to be remembered for once retired?
As someone who was a bit of a laugh and an extrovert
Who has influenced your career the most to date?
When I first started watching snooker I most admired Alex Higgins and Jimmy White. Then Steve Davis came on to the scene and he was the first of the technical robots. Then I knew I had to get my technique right to improve my game
Do you have a routine or superstition before matches?
I tend to prepare in exactly the same way for matches and I always have a game plan. But I don't have any superstitions - to think for example that wearing a particular pair of socks is going to help you win is a form of mental weakness.
The single best moment of your career?
Winning the Grand Prix in 1997 when I beat John Higgins in the final. I played well and won in style in front of a big crowd and some great snooker people, dressed in their dinner suits. It was a wonderful night and it's great to have made my mark on the game - although I would like to win more tournaments.
Your favourite sport other than snooker? - to watch and participate in...
I like tennis cricket and golf but I'd have to say my favourite sport is gymnastics.

Peter Ebdon

What is the most important skill / quality for a snooker player?
Persistence
If not snooker - then what would you be doing now?
I'd be in MI5
Your toughest opponent ever?
John Higgins
What are your thoughts on the current development of snooker in Mainland China?
It's brilliant news for all of us
What would like to be remembered for once retired?
I'm not going to retire!
Who has influenced your career the most to date?
Myself, because whenever I have done something well it's been down to me, and whenever I have done something wrong it's been down to me
Do you have a routine or superstition before matches?
No
The single best moment of your career?
Winning the world title in 2002
Your favourite sport other than snooker? - to watch and participate in...
Horse racing (flat)

Dave Harold

What is the most important skill / quality for a snooker player?
Determination
If not snooker - then what would you be doing now?
My brother is a builder so I'd probably be helping him with that
Your toughest opponent ever?
Steve Davis
What are your thoughts on the current development of snooker in Mainland China?
China could be the future of the game - who know in ten years time we could have five or six tournament a year there. It's such a massive market and there are so many opportunities, it's very exciting.
What would like to be remembered for once retired?
As a player who gave everything he could to the game, worked hard and was a fair opponent.
Who has influenced your career the most to date?
Probably my former coach Mick Smith. Or Steve Davis because in the 1980s he set the standard for everyone else to aspire to
Do you have a routine or superstition before matches?
Not really, I go through rituals from time to time, but nothing that would be considered unusual
The single best moment of your career?
It's got to be winning the Asian Open in Bangkok in 1993.
Your favourite sport other than snooker? - to watch and participate in...
I love football, I'm a Stoke City fan. We've brought in some good loan signings this summer and I think we'll be in the shake-up for the play-offs next season.

Tony Drago

What is the most important skill / quality for a snooker player?
Cue ball control
If not snooker - then what would you be doing now?
I would love to have been a tennis player because it's my favourite sport other than snooker. But I don't think that will happen now as I'm a little out of shape.
Your toughest opponent ever?
Steve Davis
What are your thoughts on the current development of snooker in Mainland China?
It's fantastic to have two ranking tournaments in a season there and I hope in years to come we might have three or four.
What would like to be remembered for once retired?
As a good player and a good sportsman - a gentleman on and off the table.
Who has has influenced your career the most to date?
Without a doubt, my mum
Do you have a routine or superstition before matches?
None at all
The single best moment of your career?
Beating Stephen Hendry 6-4 at the Masters at Wembley in 1999. I made three century breaks and at the end I got a standing ovation from nearly 3000 people. Plus the whole match was live on BBC.
Your favourite sport other than snooker? - to watch and participate in...
I love to watch tennis, football and boxing.