Five outsiders to watch out for in the 2018 World Snooker Championship

Ahead of the start of the 2018 World Championship on Saturday, we pick five outsiders to look out for at the Crucible this year.

Snooker’s blue-riband event takes centre stage once more with 32 players competing to lift the ultimate prize in the sport, as well as collecting a lucrative cheque for £425,000.

While the tournament traditionally brings the best out of the game’s elite, there is also the opportunity for new names to emerge on the greatest stage of all.

Here, we pick our five outsiders to look out for during the event...

Jack Lisowski

The 26-year-old has enjoyed a consistent season that has lifted him into the top 32 of the world rankings; notably reaching the Shanghai Masters semi-finals along the way.

Lisowski then dropped just 10 frames over three matches to seal his return to the Crucible five years after making his debut.

Having accumulated plenty more experience since his first appearance, the left-hander will be eager to make up for lost time in Sheffield.

Jamie Jones

The Welshman certainly knows what it takes to perform on the Crucible stage, having reached the quarter-finals on his debut in 2012.

He booked his return to Sheffield in some style earlier this week – recording an astonishing 10-0 whitewash over Liang Wenbo in the final qualifying round.

Drawn to play Shaun Murphy – the player he beat on his first appearance here six years ago – the Neath cueist will certainly fancy his chances of causing more surprises at the Crucible.

Chris Wakelin

The highest-ranked of the four debutants at this year’s event, Wakelin dropped just nine frames to book his place in Sheffield.

The world number 55 may have been handed one of the toughest draws in Judd Trump, but he knows what it takes to beat the top players in front of the cameras.

After all, the Nuneaton cueist overcame Ronnie O’Sullivan in last year’s English Open while, earlier this month, he whitewashed Shaun Murphy 6-0 at the China Open.

Also, given Trump’s recent struggles at the Crucible, that is something that Wakelin should look to pounce on in his quest to claim another huge scalp. After that, who knows what could happen?

Thepchaiya Un-Nooh

Un-Nooh is a player that many within the snooker world are surprised to see only making his first appearance at the Crucible.

The Thai, who will become the fifth player from his nation to play in the final stages in Sheffield, is blessed with a free-flowing game that is so easy on the eye.

Should he bring that to the table, along with his neat break-building skills, the world number 58 will certainly earn many new fans this year.

Lyu Haotian

The latest rising star to break through from China, Lyu will be aiming to cap a fine season by doing some damage at the Crucible.

The 20-year-old, who reached the Northern Ireland Open semi-finals, has moved to within touching distance of the top 64 as a result of his progress.

His first-round opponent is Marco Fu, who has been out of competitive action for the past three months after eye surgery.

It is also a player Lyu has already beaten this season – doing so at the UK Championship – and a case of déjà vu could really see him kick on in Sheffield.