Provisional world ranking: 9

Age: 28

World Championship best: Second Round 1998

Best ranking event performance: Winner of one tournament: British Open 1999.

1999/2000 ranking form: British - R5, Grand Prix - R4, UK - R3, China - R5, Welsh - QF, Malta - R2, Thailand - Qual, Scottish - R5.

Fergal O'Brien has made a steady climb up the world ranking list.

Following two last eight appearances during the 1996/97 season he broke into the top 32 for the first time.

He secured his top 16 place last year when he won the 1999 British Open, beating Anthony Hamilton 9-7 in the final.

Although disappointingly losing his first-round match at the Crucible 10-4 soon after, Fergal had done enough to ensure a place in snooker's elite for this season.

This season has brought mixed fortunes for the Dubliner, with a quarter-final place at the Regal Welsh being his best performance.

The baby-faced assassin was a member of the Republic of Ireland's 1996 World Cup team, which was defeated by Scotland in the final.