Provisional world ranking: 12

Age: 21

World Championship best: First Round 1999.

Best ranking event performance: Winner of one tournament: Regal Welsh 1998.

1999/2000 ranking form: British - R5, Grand Prix - R5, UK - R4, China - R5, Welsh - R3, Malta - R1, Thailand - R1, Scottish - R3.

Paul Hunter has had a fairly consistent season so far and one from which he can take heart.

Although not progressing beyond the fifth round stage of any ranking event Paul has moved up a place to 12th spot on the provisional ranking list.

At only 21 years of age, Paul already has a ranking title to his name, the 1998 Regal Welsh.

A professional for only five years, Paul made his debut at last year's World Championships, losing out to the eventual champion Stephen Hendry.

Paul was voted Snooker Writers Association Young Player of the Year in 1998.

In recent years he has performed highly, reaching the semi-final of the Regal Welsh in 1996 and the last four of the Liverpool Victoria UK Championship in 1998.