By Richard Preen

World Ranking: 43
Date Of Birth: 28/07/71
Form: RU/R48/R48/R32/R48
World Championship best: Last 32 - 1999

Ian McCulloch has excelled himself this season including a strong set of performances at the British Open in Telford.

En route to a final defeat against Paul Hunter, McCulloch provisionally ranked 27th, knocked out Mark Williams, John Higgins, Steven Maguire, Graeme Dott and James Wattana.

His previous tournament best was a quarter-final appearance at the 2000 Regal Welsh.

He has also reached the last 32 of a number of events this season which is another reason for his provisional ranking rise.

McCulloch will be making his second appearance at the Crucible Theatre after previously losing out 10-4 to Mark Williams in 1999.

Williams went on to compete against Stephen Hendry in the final although McCulloch did at least make a clearance of 144 on his Crucible debut.

McCulloch, in his first Crucible appearance since that game, will face a difficult proposition in John Higgins.

To earn his match against Higgins, McCulloch had to overcome David Gray who, on his day, can be a match for anyone.

In taking the first five frames McCulloch managed to gain a grip on the match and was always in control before eventually progressing 10-6.

He has attributed much of his turn in form to sports psychologist Graeme Slater.

With a rematch against Higgins it will be very much a case of psychological advantage to McCulloch.