WORLD SNOOKER PLAYER PROFILES

Small - hindered by back pain (Getty Images). (12) Chris Small World Ranking: 12 Provisional Ranking: 37 Date Of Birth: 26/09/73 World Championship best: Last 16 – 1992, 2001 After a couple of excellent seasons which propelled him into the top 16, Small is on the slide this term. But it's little wonder that the Scot, who won the 2002 LG Cup, has even made it to this level of competition. He has a serious spinal condition which causes pain in his neck and back and it has almost forced him to quit the game on more than one occasion. The problem, which requires regular steroid injections, affected him at The Crucible last season when he was forced to quit his match with Alan McManus - the injections had affected his vision. Further issues with his back have led to a string of early exits in this year's tournaments and he has not won a single match on the main tour. As a result his provisional ranking has plummeted to 37 and he will have to end that barren run just to maintain his place in the world's top 32 for 2005/06.