Provisional world ranking: 1

Age: 25

World Championship best: Runner-up 1999.

Best ranking event performance: Winner of eight tournaments - Regal Welsh 1996, 1999; Grand Prix 1996; British Open 1997; Irish Open 1998; Thailand Masters 1999, 2000; Liverpool Victoria UK Championship 1999.

1999/2000 ranking form: British - R5, Grand Prix - RU, UK - Wnr, China - QF, Welsh - R3, Malta - RU, Thailand - Wnr, Irish - QF, Scottish - RU.

Left handed Mark J Williams is in pole position to take over at the top of the rankings after the World Championships in May.

Williams arrives in Sheffield fresh from reaching the final of the Regal Scottish Open in Aberdeen where he suffered a 9-1 defeat at the hands of Ronnie O'Sullivan. His fans will be hoping that the severity of that defeat hasn't knocked the Welshman's confidence.

He has just become one of the few players to successfully defend a ranking event, winning the last seven frames to claim the Thailand Masters against Stephen Hendry, effectively ending the Scots chance of regaining the number one spot.

Williams also has the rare distinction of winning back-to-back ranking titles. He has already won the UK Championship and Thailand Masters this season, adding to his three ranking victories last season and World final appearance.

Williams was also the player who took Stephen Hendry to a re-spotted black in the deciding frame of the 1998 B&H Masters final, which he eventually won.