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Mark Williams - one of the favourites in Sheffield.
WIZARD HIGGINS CAN MAKE HISTORYBy Jonny Wootton, Sporting Life. Before you go ahead and have a wager on someone to capture this year's Embassy World Championship - take heed of some friendly advice. All you have to do is cast your mind back and examine the characteristics of previous winners. It's highlighted by the fact that Jimmy White has never managed to win a world title despite so many near misses. Quite simply, the game's flamboyant players never win in Sheffield. From Ray Reardon to John Higgins, previous winners have displayed tremendous calm under potting pressure. And this year will be no different. The draw always throws up a few surprises, but it rarely thwarts the big guns. While the draw could come in handy for each-way punters who thrive on value - it will not make much of a difference to the likes of Higgins and Mark Williams. THE LEADING CONTENDERS JOHN HIGGINS Best price: 7-4 Stanley The reigning champion and current world number one has been head and shoulders above the rest of the pack for the past 18 months. He showed tremendous calm under pressure in becoming World Champion last year and the `Wizard of Wishaw' has set his sights on becoming the only first time champion to complete back-to-back wins in Sheffield. The young Scot's form has dipped in recent months, but that is usually the norm when focusing on a big event. But, like the great champions before him, the young maestro is totally focussed on the big events and you sometimes get the feeling that minor tournaments are somewhat of an irritation. He showed this by following in Stephen Hendry and John Parrott's footsteps by winning both the World Championship and UK titles last year. He also made the last four of the British Open and Scottish Masters in '98 and certainly isn't bad value at 7-4. However, Higgins is in the tougher half of the draw. His first round match against Gerald Greene should prove to be a cakewalk, but he could face the likes of in-form Mark Williams and former champion Ken Doherty en-route to the final. STEPHEN HENDRY Best price: 4-1 Ladbrokes In the not too distant past, you would have been lucky to get a price better than evens for the six-times Embassy World Champion. But even though he strongly denies it, domesticity has claimed another victim. Steve Davis ruled the roost in the 80s, but when he had amassed six titles and got himself married, the fine edge that kept him one step ahead of the rest eroded. Hendry seems to be following the same trend and his form over the last couple of years has severely dipped. It could be that he has been there done it and bought several T-shirts and the motivation isn't what is used to be, or has he simply passed his sell-by date? In my opinion, Hendry is the best player the world has ever seen and his legendary status is without question, but he may have to make way for the new kids on the block. He wilted in the first round against White last year and his eagerness to add one more world title to put him ahead of Davis and Ray Reardon will be preying on his mind and this is likely to me more of a hindrance than a help. Hendry faces Leeds' Paul Hunter in the first round and if he can overcome the talented Tyke, which will be tough, he could have a fairly easy route to the semis. MARK WILLIAMS Best price: 13-2 Coral Williams comes to Sheffield as the form guy with three comprehensive ranking wins out of eight. The 24 year-old Welshman, at the moment, is John Higgins' biggest stumbling block in his quest to create history as they could conceivably meet in the semi-finals. And who would be the favourite to win that enthralling contest is anyones guess. If Williams were in the opposite half of the draw I would be tempted to invest heavily on him reaching the final. In last year's Crucible rendezvous, Williams never clicked into full gear despite reaching the semi-finals and I am sure nothing less than a final appearance will be acceptable to him this time. While Williams is reassuringly single-minded, he is prone to the odd mistake and that could prove costly when the stakes are so high. RONNIE O'SULLIVAN Best price: 8-1 Coral, Ladbrokes and Stanley If the `Rocket' had the temperament of Hendry, the rest would just be there to make up the numbers such is the talent of the Londoner. But it would be a boring old world if we all acted like Hendry. Despite some woeful displays, O'Sullivan's World Championship record makes pretty good reading. He has thus far reached the semi-finals in 1996 and 1998, and chiefly lost on both occasions to some extremely silly mistakes. It seems inconceivable that the man from Romford could go through his entire career without a world title, but it does seem unlikely that he could turn a miserable season into success this year. O'Sullivan, beset by personal problems, finally wilted under the tremendous pressure from his home life and snooker and was forced to take a `stress free' break early in the season. Since then, the only decent competition for the 23-year-old was the Welsh Open in which he reached the last four. KEN DOHERTY Best price: 14-1 Hills, Stanley and Surrey The best way to describe Doherty prior to his World Championship success in 1997 was a `dependable professional' . The likeable Irishman may have graced the back pages of the tabloids for a few days after his biggest success but he seems to have slipped back into the average bracket. You would be comfortable backing the Dubliner to reach the quarter-finals of almost every tournament he enters, but it is rare we see him go to the wire. His recent form has been modest to say the least, with a string of quarter-final exits in all the major competitions. He did well to reach the final again last year but, to be fair, always looked second best when the heat was on. He looks to have a decent route to the quarters, but lack of sheer class could see him falter in the middle of the second week. JOHN PARROTT Best price: 33-1 Chandler The 1991 World Champion is in his 13th year as a top 16 professional and currently occupies the number six spot. The amiable Liverpudlian continues to be as solid as ever and regardless of his current form, he's always a difficult proposition for the leading players. Despite his family and media commitments, Parrott still appears to be totally focussed on his game. He hasn't won a ranking tournament for over a year, but has shown a great deal of consistency with a string of semi and quarter-finals to his name. He's also in the better half of the draw with only really Hendry and O'Sullivan the main dangers. THE BEST OF THE REST Apart from John Higgins and Mark Williams, we could see a few shocks at this year's World Championship and possibly a few nearly men finally making the grade. World number 11 Anthony Hamilton comes to the Crucible with his confidence boosted after reaching the final of the British Open. The Nottingham star plays in his fourth World Championship having been unlucky not to get past the second round in 1997 and 1998. He beat Jimmy White in the first round in 1997 and lost 13-11 to Parrott in the following match. And he led Higgins 6-2 last year before losing 13-9 to the eventual winner. He also appears to have a big arena temperament and a best priced 66-1 could be worth a few pounds each-way. Stephen Lee has impressed me over the past 12 months with his victory in the Grand Prix and solid displays in the Scottish and Irish Masters. However, he's in the tough half of the draw and should be ignored because of this. It pains me to say it, but the chances of Steve Davis claiming a record seventh title or Jimmy White finally getting his hands on what he richly deserves look very slim indeed. Leeds' Paul Hunter looks to have more than a bright future in the game and could send Hendry packing in the first round. But despite Hendry's fall from grace, you couldn't really back him to lose in the first round two years running. I must finally mention Ireland's Fergal O'Brien who makes his crucible debut after victory in last week's British Open. O'Brien has a decent draw and tasty odds of 100-1 for anyone who really fancies a long shot. SUMMARY If Higgins and Williams could only meet in the final, then it would make a tough job a doddle. With Hendry past his sell-by date, Higgins looks set to dominate the game for the foreseeable future with Williams following close behind. Most of the top 16 in the world are workmanlike professionals or players who are relatively new to the scene. It makes sense to edge your bets and back Williams and Higgins to capture the crown, knowing that the winner of their possible semi-final will be incredibly hard to beat in the final. The bottom half of the draw is by far the easiest, and tempts you to have a crack at someone at a more attractive price. Former champion Parrott is as consistent as ever and looks highly likely to make the last eight without breaking sweat. And experience coupled with his courage under fire will stand him in good stead for a realistic crack at the title. As I've already mentioned, 1999 could be the year that Hamilton comes of age. He's always put up a good account against the big boys in Sheffield and will give punters a good run for their money at succulent odds of 66-1
STAKING PLAN
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