Crucible draw sets up King/Davis showdown

ESSEX'S hoard of professional snooker players generally received favourable clashes in last week's Betfred.com World Snooker Championship draw.

The world's most famous snooker tournament, which takes place at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, will see an all-Essex match between Great Notley's Mark King and Brentwood's six-time World Champion Steve Davis, 52, in the first round.

King, 35, who trains at the Q Ball club in Chelmsford, feels it's a good draw for both men.

The world number 16, told the Chronicle: "We're both happy with it, I mean he could have drawn anybody so he is probably quite pleased.

"I'm really looking forward to it, I have never played Steve at the Crucible before so it should be good.

"I owe a lot to Steve, because he helped me out a lot earlier in my career.

"After I turned professional I practised with Steve a lot, he gave me respect and passed on so much knowledge to me. I'm sure we will have a laugh and a joke before hand but I'm under no illusions, I can't start taking people like Steve lightly."

It will be a record 30th appearance at the event for Davis, who lost an epic final 25 years ago to Dennis Taylor, he said: "'I baulk at being happy because I know how hard it is at the Crucible.

"It's not so much about who you play as how you play and you can talk yourself into one player being easier than another, but there are certain players you'd be happy to avoid so once you've avoided them you can't be displeased."

King famously pulled off a rap dance upon entering the area at The Pokerstars.com Wembley Masters earlier in the year, so does he have anything planned for the World Championships?

"We'll just have to see what the format is," he said.

"But if there is music then I might have something up my sleeve, I don't want to be one of these boring guys. You never know I might get on Strictly Come Dancing next year!"

The tournament gets underway on April 17 and Tiptree's world number five, Ali Carter, 30, who trains at his Chelmsford Snooker Club, takes on Jamie Cope in his opener and feels it will be a stern test.

"I could have had an easier draw to be honest," he said.

"It's one of the harder matches because he is a good player but if I'm going to do well I have to beat good players and I know that.

"The World Championship is the biggest tournament out there and it would be great to do well."

Reflecting on his recent Welsh Open final defeat, Carter added: "If someone would have said you'll get to the final I would have taken it.

"It was disappointing to lose out but it's stabilised my season and I'm looking forward now."

Chigwell's three-time World Champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan, 34, will open up against China's Liang Wenbo.

Meanwhile, Barry Hearn in his new role as chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association has told the Chronicle he will never take the World Championships away from Sheffield.

He said: "I wouldn't do that, I won't touch it.

"You wouldn't move Wimbledon would you? And that's how I feel about this."

Hearn also wants to introduce a tour card policy in snooker, whereby players have to earn their right to play in ranking events by playing in an annual qualifying tournament.