With the draw for the 2009 World Championship now completed, players have already started to express their thoughts on it and their first round opponents…
Neil Robertson on drawing Steve Davis (Cambridge News):
“Steve’s not the player he once was, but he just enjoys playing.
“Sometimes it can be more dangerous playing someone like that, rather than a top player.
“He’s done everything there is to do in the game and he beat me at the Grand Prix this season when I took him a little bit for granted.
“I’m going to be practising really, really hard and I’ll be treating him with respect.
“I’ve been a lot more consistent this season and I’ll be going to Sheffield with confidence.”
Joe Perry on Jamie Cope (Cambridge News):
“Jamie is one of the up-and-coming stars and is very dangerous and unpredictable. I’ll have to be at my best to get past him.”
Michael Holt on John Higgins (Evening Times):
“I am sure John is quaking in his boots now,”
“He is one of the best players there has ever been, but there are no easy games and if I play well, I have a chance.”
Mark Selby on Ricky Walden (This is Leicestershire):
“I’m happy enough with the draw. It will be tough, but they all are at this stage.
“I know Ricky well, we came up through the ranks together. We have met each twice this season and it’s one apiece, but I’m confident of winning.”
Bingham on O’Sullivan (Sunday Sun):
“It’s obviously a very tough draw, but maybe the first round is the best time to play Ronnie,”
“It will be one of the highlights of my career to play Ronnie at the Crucible.
“I’ve played Hendry there and last year I beat Steve Davis and said that I wanted to play the best players at the best venues. The atmosphere will be fantastic.
“I play Ronnie twice a week in practice, he wins more often than not but I tend to hold my own.
“I’m just relieved to have made it to Sheffield and happy to be in the draw.”
Higgins on Holt (BBC):
“I have played Michael there before and beat him and, no disrespect to him, I could have got the likes of two-time winner Mark Williams,”
“But it will all be down to who plays best on the day again.
“I would love to win the title again and, if I can play as well as I can for the 17 days, I would fancy my chances.
“But there are about 10 other players who would say the same thing.”
Walden on Selby (Chester Chronicle):
“I’ve finally got to where I want to be so it’s a really nice feeling,”
“I’ve lost a few times at the final stage and that’s been so hard for me because it means finishing the season on a disappointing note.
“So to qualify for the first time really is a massive weight off my shoulders.
“It’ll be nice to face Mark as we’ve been playing snooker together since we were kids. We used to play on the same England teams and we’re good friends.
“He’s one of the top players in the world and I’m sure there are people out there who would say you’d want to avoid players like him in the first round, but I’ll fancy my chances and I’m sure he’ll be saying the same.”