By Jonathan Rawcliffe & Phil Harlow BBC Sport at The Crucible

Steven Gerrard celebrates his highest break of 28

Liverpool footballer Steven Gerrard travelled from Anfield to take in the match between Scotland's John Higgins and Leicester youngster Ian Selby.

It was Gerrard's first taste of the magic of the Crucible and the England midfielder declared himself highly impressed by what he saw.

However, Gerrard admitted his highest break was a meagre 28.

So for the time being at least, Gerrard will stick to playing for the Reds rather than potting colours.

After his win over Fergal O'Brien, Jimmy White was inevitably asked if he thought he could finally land the World Championship this year.

His response? "I haven't come here to look at that garden again."

The Whirlwind was referring to Sheffield's Winter Gardens, just a stone's throw from the Crucible.

It's an exotic botanical experience, but Jimmy made it quite clear that this year he's more interested in pot-ting balls than pot-plants.

Bookmakers are usually only too happy to help you part with your hard-earned cash, and it's no different during the snooker at The Crucible.

"You can bet on anything you like," claimed Tim Pickering, Betting Manager at tournament bookies Totesport.

"The number of centuries made, who will make the final, the score of the morning session, anything at all."

Ok, how about the total number of reds potted in the entire competition? "Erm... that's a bit too obscure..."

Despite suffering from a bout of flu, Jimmy White was his usual impish self when giving his reasons for avoiding playing exhibition matches.

"Clive will tell you what it's like when you're booked on lots of them," he said, nodding in the direction of BBC commentator Clive Everton.

"I went to both of them, Jim" joked Everton, from the back of the room.