Fergal O'Brien

O'Brien entered the top 10 almost unnoticed

Date of birth: 8/3/72
World ranking: 9
Career earnings: £425,145

Few people outside the snooker scene are aware about Fergal O'Brien's rise into the world's top ten.

The Dubliner, who turned professional in 1991, won his first ranking event when he picked up the British Open last year at the expense of fellow finalist Anthony Hamilton.

Success in the World Championships did not come until last season when he went through to the quarter-final stages only to be beaten by eventual winner Mark Williams, 13-5.

He is one of two players from the Republic of Ireland currently in the world's top 16, the other being Ken Doherty.