MARK WILLIAMS (Wales)

World ranking: 5

Age: 24

World Championship best: Semi-finalist (1998)

Best ranking event performance: Winner six tournaments - Regal Welsh 1996, 1999; Grand Prix 1996; British Open 1997; Irish Open 1998; Thailand Masters 1999

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

The Welsh left-hander has risen to a career-high third in the provisional world rankings after capturing three world ranking titles this season - only the fourth player in history to do so.

He became only the seventh player to win back-to-back ranking titles by winning the Irish Open and then the Welsh Open, he also collected the Thailand Masters.

The 23-year-old from Ebbw Vale has also won the Benson & Hedges Masters, helped Wales defeat Scotland in the final of the Nations Cup and reached the German Masters final in Bingen.

Last season Williams reached the Embassy World Championship semi-finals for the first time. He led Ken Doherty 12-8 and 13-11 but was eventually beaten 17-14.

He took up boxing as a youngster but snooker soon KO'd a career in the ring and by the age of 17 he had turned professional.

© PA Sporting Life