Davis confident he can beat Lee

STEVE DAVIS has been breaking records throughout a professional career stretching back over a quarter of a century. Davis is the oldest player at this season’s Embassy World Championship, though he still has some way to go to improve on namesake Fred’s record of competing at the Crucible, aged 69.

However, his achievement at regaining his top 16 status at the age of 45 in an era dominated by players nearly 20 years his junior may never be surpassed. While there are a clutch of professionals arriving in Sheffield fretting about their ranking for next season (including Jimmy White) six-times world champion Davis is not one of them. He is provisionally 12th after last week’s Scottish Open having started the campaign in 25th position.

“I’m in a no-lose situation,” agreed the Essex legend, who faces deposed LG Cup and Scottish Open champion Stephen Lee in his first match.

“I’ve no reason to feel disappointed even if I lose my opening match,” he added. “I have visions of walking in with a bottle of champagne to my press conference and saying ‘this has been a successful season’.

“I’ve never lost to a player ranked below me and I’ve taken some notable scalps along the way.

“I feel much more competitive these days and I’m no longer going to tournaments just to make up the numbers. In some respects I’m like a new kid on the block. Having to qualify for the Crucible puts a whole different perspective on things.

“I feel I can go to Sheffield with a fair chance of winning against Stephen Lee, though he probably thinks the same about playing me.

“I don’t have to worry about what my general standard is like anymore. By dropping out of the top 16, I finally shook off an albatross round my neck. I finally got rid of any shackles of trying to live up to the player I used to be.”

Even so Davis knows he will not feature highly in the pre-tournament betting: “I’m still not one of the favourites for tournaments, but people who watch snooker a lot, or are on the circuit regularly, know I’m back to some sort of form. I’ll be 46 in August, but I don’t feel 46.

“And wouldn’t it be nice if I could return to the Crucible when I was 50.”

It is 14 years since Davis destroyed John Parrott 18-3 to land the last of his six world titles. Official bookmakers Ladbrokes are offering 125-1 on the ‘Nugget’ bridging that gap this year.

“The fascinating thing will be to see if Peter Ebdon can retain his title,” he said. “That seems to be the hardest thing for anyone to do.”

No first time champion has ever returned to the Crucible and defended the trophy, not even Davis or seven times champion Stephen Hendry.

Davis was on the wrong end of a 10-1 scoreline against Tony Knowles when he tried back in 1982.

Whatever happens Davis will still be at the final day on May 5, even if only as co-presenter with John Parrott for BBC TV’s tournament coverage.

“I’ve really enjoyed combining playing with the television work,” he said, but playing is what I do for my own sanity. The most satisfaction I can get out of any job is when I’m playing snooker and you only need a bit of encouragement to start enjoying the challenge. In the past I was hating the challenge because I wasn’t getting any encouragement from my performances, but that’s not the case anymore.”