The first one's over. I was frustrated at the end against Nick (Dyson). He started to come back really well, got a bit of inspiration from winning a couple of close games in the first session and when I was 6-1, I should have finished 7-2, maybe 8-1. That gave him inspiration in the evening session.

This is a guy that made a 147 during the season. He has been playing well but he hasn't broken through. He probably showed a little bit of inexperience in some of the shots he was going for. But some of them went in and that's what gave him the confidence.

He was going for everything. It was getting a little bit edgy towards the end as I was getting closer to the winningline . . . then he came back and put me under a bit of pressure . . . I was waiting for a good chance and got it by making a century in the last. It's was a good way to finish.

This is probably my best season. I've never had a run like this in ranking tournaments (two consecutive wins and a final). I've won two before but I don't think I've played as well consistently since I turned professional.

My form has been good but I was very disappointed at how I played in the final last week (Scottish Open). When you're playing against top players, it's not only tiring but you know you're going to get punished and that's what happened. But things are going well. I can't complain. It's great feeling being on a roll and if you'd told me at the beginning of the season that I'd win two ranking tournaments and get to the final of another I'd have snapped your hands off for it.

Coming into Sheffield, though, I didn't want to think of the expectations. I suppose people think that I have a good chance. When I won it in 1997 I was a 25 to 1 outsider. People now regard me as a contender and to be honest I'd prefer to come in with confidence than as a rank outsider.

Things are a lot different now and yes, I think the personal life has had an influence. If you are happy in your personal life it helps. The last thing you need playing this game is to have any worries or problems off the table - plus the fact I can't get into Lillies anymore! I've gotta do my practice and get to bed early! Yeh, a big strain on that part of my social life!

Actually it's much better now. I'm more indulgent in my practice and just really happy and looking forward to getting married. Sarah (Prasad, a psychiatrist) never knew anything about snooker before I met her. We don't really talk about it. If anything she'd talk about routine and how to psyche yourself up a little bit. But, you know when I get home the last thing I want to talk about is snooker and the last thing she wants to talk about is her job. We both have quite stressful jobs and it's nice just to get away and do something different.

Michael (Judge) had a good win. I watched him against John Parrott and it was a great win for him. I played him in the Scottish Open last week. I was three nil down to him and he should have made it four nil. It's going to be tough. He's nothing to lose. I'll be odds on favourite to beat him but I don't feel like that. I'll have to come out of the blocks quickly.

But facing qualifiers early on is something I do in every tournament. You always play qualifiers before you meet any of the top eight seeds. So you have to deal with it. You know they're good. You just treat them with the same respect. If you don't do that with a player like Michael, he'll take advantage and gain confidence.

Against him I'm going to have to play good safety, make big breaks . . . score. I scored alright in the first match, got a few centuries but I'm going to have to do that with a little more regularity. I gotta kill off frames from one visit because he's in good form and making big breaks.

But over 25 frames it gives us both a little more time. I would say that suits my game. You can relax more with 25 frames. It's over three sessions and I'll play it session by session and look at it as having to win each one.

For the first eight frames I'd be hopefully looking for a 5-3 lead. Same with the next session which would gave me 10-6. Then I could still afford to lose the final session 5-3 and still win.

Between now and tomorrow I'll relax a little by doing nothing. You only get a couple of hours practice on the table anyway because that's all you're allowed. I just try to get lots of rest because the world championships are demanding. But I have a good chance. I've just gotta prepare myself well and take it.

(in an interview with Johnny Watterson)