It’s as we started the season with Joe Perry, who remains 14th in the world.

The Cambridgeshire potter shrugged off the disappointment of losing in the first round of the Grand Prix to Jamie Cope by reaching the semi-finals of the UK Championship.

Perry had to battle hard at York; he came from 7-5 behind to beat Barry Hawkins 9-7, he trailed 6-2 against Mark King before winning the last seven frames and he also took the last two frames against Stuart Bingham to win 9-8.

Ding Junhui was far too good for him in the semis but nonetheless, it was a very good fortnight. The previous year he looked to have one foot in the final as he was 8-7 up and his opponent, David Gray, required snookers in the 16th frame. Agonisingly, Perry lost out 9-8 in the end so banishing the memories of 2004 was no mean feat.

2006 has not been anywhere near as good to the 30-year-old. He did reach the quarter-finals in China, benefiting from Michael Holt’s meltdown. However, the Far East aside, he has only won one match, in Malta against James Wattana, who got immediate revenge in Newport.

Perry has not got a stellar Crucible record and he might just be vulnerable to in-form Welsh hope Ryan Day.

Prediction: First-round checkout