Steve Judd

Steve Judd became English champion in 1991 with a 13–10 win over 15-year-old Ronnie O'Sullivan. Then he took part in the professional tour from the 1991–92 season. The first tournament, the Dubai Classic, he began with the collection under the last 96 after a 5–1 win over Barry Pinches. He achieved the same result at the Asian Open, at the European Open, he still reached the last 128th Thus, he started his professional career in 16th place in the world rankings. The following year he reached the round of the last 32 in the first tournament of the Strachan Challenge. However, it was a tournament with a reduced score and few top players among the participants. In a full ranked tournament, the Welsh Open, he reached the main tournament of the last 64, but then had against the world champion Stephen Hendry at 0–5 no chance. In the UK Championship and the International Open, he reached the round of the last 96, but then both times could not compete in the next qualifying round. 1993/94 he was at the International Open after a victory over Jim Wych in the main tournament. At the Thailand Open he survived the Round of 48s with a 5–1 win over the 16 world ranking David Roe and traveled to Bangkok, but then lost in the wild card round before the round of 32 Round against a local amateur. Two more times he reached the round of the last 96 in the season and thus came in the top 128 of the ranking.

In the season 1994/95 there was no increase and only at the Grand Prix he reached the main tournament. But he came four times in the last 96, including for the first time in the World Cup. That was enough for an improvement to place 74 in the world ranking, but this was his career high. He was eliminated eight times in the following season in the first or second round, only in the Thailand Classic and the World Cup, he came under the last 96. Because at the same time the good penultimate season fell out of the standings, it cost him a few places. It went better again in 1996/97. At the Asian Classic he reached after a victory over Matthew Stevens the round of the last 48. At the Grand Prix and the British Open, he twice reached the main tournament of the last 64.

• Steve Judd at Snooker.org