Neal Foulds

World Championship Q&A with Neal Foulds

"I love the fact that this is the one event that doesn’t need change."

Neal Foulds gives us the Crucible lowdown in our special World Championship Q&A.

This will be the best World Championships ever!

"By a quirk of fate, I’m tipping a left-hander to be crowned Crucible champion."

BBC and Eurosport commentator Neal Foulds picks his players to watch during this year's tournament.

We've come to expect the unexpected at the World Open

"I’ve seen pretty much every ball struck and, now we’re down to the semi-final stage, I’ve still got no clue who’s going to win it. That shows what a healthy state snooker is in at the moment."

Neal Foulds is enjoying his role with ITV in what has been an exciting week at the World Open in China.

Player Profile

Name: Neal Foulds
Date of birth: July 13, 1963
Lives: Egham, Surrey
Professional career: 1983-2003
Highest world ranking: No.3 (1987-89)
Best ranking performance: 1986 International Open Champion, 1987 World Championship semi-finals
Highest tournament break: 142
Post-playing career: Highly respected commentator for BBC and Eurosport

TEN QUESTIONS
How often do you still play snooker? I’ve not hit a ball since last year’s Seniors World Championships! Besides that, I’ve only play once a year since my retirement in 2003
How many 147 breaks have you made, in competition or practice? I made around 40 in practice, but only two in exhibitions and, sadly, none in tournaments
Who is the best player you’ve ever played? I was around during the peak years of Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry, and it’s tough to split them
Who is the greatest player ever to pick up a snooker cue? In some ways the answer to that is Ronnie O’Sullivan, a special talent
What is your favourite tournament venue? The Crucible, but I always enjoyed the atmosphere at Goffs for the Irish Masters
Best moment in snooker? Winning a ranking event, or twice being a part of England's World Cup-winning team
Worst moment in snooker? Smashing a dressing-room window in anger mid-match at the Crucible, I needed to win to stay in the top 16 but eventually lost
What was your strongest trait as a player? I had very good cue power which often got me out of trouble
What’s the strangest thing you’ve commentated on? I once commentated through a continual fire alarm in the playing arena, only interrupted by recorded instructions on how to leave the building. It could not be turned off so play continued regardless
Greatest match you’ve ever been involved in, win or lose? I once beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-0 in a ranking tournament, but I remember losing 13-12 to Jimmy White at Sheffield in a great match

THREE THINGS
Three things you like? 1) Cricket 2) Music 3) Cheese
Three things you hate? 1) Ignorant people 2) Traffic wardens 3) Iced gems
Three things you want? 1) Summertime 2) A boat 3) Happiness
Three things you regret? The whole of 2011, except that I had laser eye surgery, which is great
Three things that need doing at home? 1) Grass needs cutting 2) Shed needs replacing 3) Letterbox needs sealing up to avoid pizza menus being shoved through on a daily basis.
Follow Neal on Twitter: @fouldsy147