Champions

Mark Williams won the 27th Crucible World Championship when he defeated Ken Doherty 18-16 last year.

It was the Welshman's second title, but he will have to win five more to match Stephen Hendry's record of seven titles.

The Scot won his first in 1990 making him the youngest world champion at the age of 21 years and 106 days.

Steve Davis claimed six championships, and along with Hendry, is the only man to have succesfully defended his title.

Jimmy White is the only man to have appeared in more than one final without ever winning the title - losing on six occasions, five in a row.

Davis appeared in a record seven consecutive finals from 1983, winning five, and one of the two finals he lost was the longest in the tournament's history.

That climax featured Dennis Taylor, who won through 18-17, potting the final black 10 minutes shy of 15 hours after the match had begun.

This year's prize fund is �1,378,920. The winner will receive �250,000, with the runner-up claiming the consolation of �125,000.

Ray Reardon won �3,500 when winning the first Embassy title in 1976.

Break building

In 2002, Stephen Hendry set a new record for the number of centuries scored in a tournament, his tally of 16 eclipsing the 14 John Higgins notched in 1998.

There were 68 centuries in total that year, a tournament best, nine more than the previous record of 59 from 1998.

In the last decade over 500 centuries have been scored at the Crucible, and, since his debut in 1986, Hendry has recorded more than 100 tons - another championship record.

Only four men have managed to score maximums at the Embassy World Championship.

Championship maximums 1983 - Cliff Thorburn 1992 - Jimmy White 1995 - Stephen Hendry 1997 - Ronnie O'Sullivan 2003 - Ronnie O'Sullivan

Cliff Thorburn was the first to make the magical 147 in 1983 and has since been followed by Jimmy White, Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan.

O'Sullivan's first effort, timed at five minutes and 20 seconds, is the fastest in the history of the sport.

The highest break at this year's tournament has a prize of �22,000, with a maximum earning �147,000.