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 RYAN DAY started playing snooker at the age of nine and has been enjoying success ever since.
Invincible as a Welsh junior, he took his talents on to the world stage, reaching the final of the World Amateur Championship, losing on the final black in Guangzhou, China.
He wrote his name into the record books in 1998, when along with fellow Welshmen Matthew Stevens and Tony Chappel he was one of three players to compile a 147 in the same event on the same day.
Since turning professional he has taken some highly rated scalps, most notably Steve Davis in the Regal Welsh, when he recovered from 0-4 to clinch the match 5-4.
In 2001-02 he could do no wrong, topping the Challenge Tour rankings to claim his main tour place and winning the B&H Championship, which earned him an appearance in the Benson & Hedges Masters. He played superbly to beat Dave Harold 6-3, but got a lesson from the master, taking a 6-0 drubbing from Stephen Hendry.
But Day should be grateful to his homeland since it was arguably his efforts in Wales that helped turn his 2005-06 season around. Before the Newport event, Day had only won one match all season, and that was in a non-ranking event, beating Alfie Burden 5-3.
Apart from that, the young Welshman's efforts prior to Christmas were very poor for a man of his undisputed talent. He had lost five of his six matches and was in serious danger of dropping out of the top 32.
Bring on the Welsh Open. Maybe it is the prospect of playing Crucible legends that fires him up because in beating John Parrott and then Jimmy White he lost only one frame.
Day's performance against White was stunning? he knocked in breaks of 90, 135, 84 and 73 and outscored the six-time Crucible runner-up by 421 points. The 26-year-old was unable to repeat his breathtaking display against Barry Hawkins in the next round but losing to the provisional world No 10 and most improved player on tour is no disgrace.
Thankfully, Day was able to carry the momentum gained in Newport up north to Prestatyn for the final qualifying round of the World Championship. Even though he was 3-0 behind to in-form Stuart Bingham, Day kept his nerve to win 10-7.
On his only trip to the Crucible back in 2004, Day agonisingly lost 10-9 to John Higgins after leading 9-7. He is set to become a father in the summer and what better way to celebrate parenthood by going at least one stage further than on his Crucible debut.
And he did just that by wasting little time in securing a glamour second round clash with world No 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan as he ousted 15th seed Joe Perry with a crushing 10-3 win.
After making a break of 97 in the opening frame it was all downhill for Perry, who was 7-2 behind going into the concluding session and could find no way back into the match.
"I kept Joe under pressure and did what I had to," said the 26-year-old. "Joe didn't play as well as he can, but I felt I had more to give and was really focused on getting the match finished."
On his clash with O'Sullivan, the world No 32 added, "If you had a choice of opponent you wouldn't go for Ronnie but that's the way the draw is. I'll have to make a good start and see how it goes from there."
And Day did make a good start against the Rocket, forging out a 9-7 lead after the second session. But an agonising miscue on a pink cost him a 10-8 lead and allowed O’Sullivan to level the match at 9-9. At that was the end for the Welshman as the tournament favourite capitalised to see out the match 13-10.
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