RONNIE O'SULLIVAN (England)

World ranking: 3

Age: 23

World Championship best: Semi-finalist twice (1996, 1998)

Best ranking event performance: Winner six tournaments - UK Championship 1993, 1997; British Open 1994; Asian Classic 1996; German Open 1996; Scottish Open 1998

1998/99 ranking form: Grand Prix - R3, UK -R1, Irish - R1, Welsh - SF, Scottish - R2, Thailand - R1, China - R2, British - R3.

A precocious talent who has not made the most yet of his undoubted quality.

He compiled his first century break at the age of 10 and in 1991 became the youngest player, aged 15 years 97 days, to compile a competitive maximum break in the English Amateur Championship.

He then became the youngest ever winner of the World Junior Championship and in 1993, still only 17, became the youngest winner of an international professional tournament and then a ranking event.

But in 1994 he threatened to quit snooker after making a tearful exit from the UK Championships and in 1996 was fined £20,000 and given a suspended two-year ban after assaulting a tournament official at the Embassy World Championship.

In 1998, he was forced to hand over his Irish Masters title and winner's cheque after a drugs test taken during the Goffs week later revealed traces of cannabis.

Earlier this season he withdrew from the UK Championship and German Masters on health grounds.

© PA Sporting Life