World Ranking: 9
Provisional Ranking: 9
Date Of Birth: 11/09/77
World Championship best: Runner-up - 2000

Stevens has traditionally saved his best performances for the Crucible so his poor form of late should not worry punters too much.

He was runner-up to Mark Williams here back in 2000 in a final in which he had led 13-7 only to lose 18-16.

The following two years the Welshman reached the semi-finals only to lose out in epic battles on both occasions.

This season started well with Stevens finally getting the monkey of not having won a ranking tournament off his back.

That victory came at the UK Championship - second only to this event in terms of prestige - when Stephen Hendry was beaten 10-8 in the York final.

Things have not gone swimmingly in lesser events since then, but the big stage should galvanise this talented player once again.