Snooker Stars at Sheffield Station

As Sheffield prepares to host the 2008 World snooker championships former world champions John Parrott and Shaun Murphy were on hand at Sheffield station handing out top tips and coaching sessions.

John Parrott the 1991 champion and Shaun Murphy the last Embassy champion in 2005 were on hand at Sheffield train station on Tuesday April 5th, to give commuters and passers by tips to improve their game and entertain the public before the championship starts.

The coaching session which took place from 9am-11am was a chance for the BBC to record footage which will be used in between matches at the crucible and before play starts. But the event didn't finish in the morning.

On hand in the afternoon from 4pm was crucible hot shot Mark Selby, playing members of the public in the crowded station. Also John Parrott had stayed round from the morning and was still coaching under the expert eye of the BBC camera crew.

After a few quick tips and a frame with Selby his first opponent Christopher Lucas, 18 a first year accounts student at Sheffield Hallam University said:' I live in Beighton and play at club baize alot, so the advice Mark and John gave me about playing off the side rails is very useful.'

He demonstrated the useful tip by potting a long red from off the top cushion into the opposite corner twelve feet away, although he added 'I still hit it too hard and was a little lucky but I will practice what Mark has told me'.

After this Selby played more passers by and also showed Joanna Ragsdell, 16 a student from Derby who had been shopping in Sheffield, how to line up and pot a snooker ball.

After she had managed this task with a black off the spot she said:' I think I'll scream if I see myself on the BBC during the world championships I didn't realise that's what the cameras were here for.'

So far this season Selby is the only man to have won two events back to back and has become a hot pick out of the 32 man field this year.

All his success this year has stemmed from his run to the World final last season where he lost 18-13 to John Higgins, but since then he has captured the Masters and Welsh Open.

The World Snooker Championships are Sheffield bound from April 19th to May 5th and full coverage is available on BBCi and British Eurosport.