By Richard Preen

World Ranking: 58
Date Of Birth: 24/04/75
Form: Q/Q/Q/Q/Q
World Championship best: Last 48 - 2002

Stuart Pettman has been a professional for 11 years and has made a steady impression on the tour.

He has reached the last 32 of ranking events on six previous occasions with his seventh surely his most important, an appearance at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

To qualify for the championships he had to see off three opponents in Rod Lawer (10-5), Shokat Ali (10-4) and finally his toughest match Dave Harold (10-7).

His match against Harold started off particularly comfortably as he stormed into a 6-1 lead but Harold ground his way back into the match before eventually giving way.

Last year Pettman narrowly missed an earlier Crucible visit by losing by the odd frame to Michael Judge 10-9.

His wish before heading to Sheffield was to draw one of the top guns because he had nothing to lose.

Well, his wish has been granted with a meeting against the World's number two Mark Williams.

Furthermore the second session of the match will fall on his 28th birthday although it remains to be seen whether this will be a champagne celebration or a quiet night in.