By Richard Preen

World Ranking: 1
Date Of Birth: 05/12/75
Form: QF/QF/QF/W/W
World Championship best: Winner 2001

The `rocket' enters the Crucible fray as bookies favourite and there is no reason to disagree with the layers.

Three tournaments to his name already this season, he is generally regarded as the man to stop.

The European and Irish Masters were back to back successes and furthermore, have taken place in the last month.

It seems that Ronnie has timed his change in form perfectly with the Crucible fortnight upon us.

Ronnie has credited his recent improvement to coach Del Hill who advised his prodigy to make a slight alteration to his game.

As for what that alteration encompasses we don't know but it's had an instant effect and would surely be worth a fortune if bottled.

His recent Irish Master's final against John Higgins was a high quality affair with extremely heavy scoring from both participants.

The European Open was won by a bigger margin against a rejuvenated Stephen Hendry.

Ronnie's only World title success dates back to 2001 when he eventually overcame John Higgins and fulfilled the promise shown in the preceding years.

He progressed through to the semi-finals last year but never really showed enough to recapture his crown.

Ronnie had threatened to pull out of the Scottish Open to prepare properly for this year's World Championships but after an upturn in form decided against letting the supporters and sponsors down and is competing.

O'Sullivan has also been busy away from the table with a new lingerie business and the recent publication of his autobiography which has been serialised in a national paper.

He has also been involved in a war of words with his adversary Mark Williams and with a possible semi-final clash between the two expect no quarter given.

Ronnie is one of the most naturally gifted players and, if he finds top gear, will be walking away with the famous trophy for a second time.