Right on Cue: Matthew Selt

Name: Matthew Selt

Nationality: English

Age: 24 (DOB: 07/03/1985)

World Ranking: 67

Career Highlights: 2009 Shanghai Masters last 32 (ongoing), 2008 Welsh Open last 48, 2002 English U18 runner-up

General: Romford cueman Selt survived relegation during his first season on the full tour in 2008-09, having qualified the season before by finishing seventh in the PIOS rankings.

A pro since 2000, his best ranking finish was last 48 of 2008 Welsh Open, where he beat Ben Woollaston, Barry Pinches and Mark Davis before losing to Stuart Bingham. He was consistent on debut, losing only one first-round match and reaching the last 64 of the Grand Prix and UK Championship.

Had he beaten Rod Lawler in what turned out to be his final match of the season - a 10-4 loss in the World Championship qualifiers - he would have secured a top-64 place in the rankings and hence begun every tournament of the coming season in the second round.

Reached quarter-finals of the recent Leeds invitational Pro Challenge event, losing to Alan McManus, before disposing of Tour newcomer Mark Boyle, Andy Hicks, Jimmy Michie and - most impressively - multiple world champion Steve Davis in qualifiers for the Shanghai Masters. That secures him a spot in the last 32 of a ranking tournament for the first time - against world champion John Higgins.

Strengths: Consistency. Able to routinely take the game to his opponetns and dispose of less experienced players, while he has also won matches from several frames down on several occasions. Managers to build century breaks with regularity.

Weaknesses: As he said himself: "I'm 24 now, not 17 anymore, so I've really got to stand up and make it count this season." With a year of top-level snooker behind him, he must overcome the mental barriers of playing against the best players in the business and progress to the latter stages of ranking events. Began that process with the 5-4 win over Davis, although the master is not the player he once was. Selt can be guilty of missing easy chances.

Trivia: Friend and practice partner of Neil Robertson, while he also practises with Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Started playing snooker aged 12, made his first century at 14 and maximum at 15.

Looked up to Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens as a youngster, while Tiger Woods and Roger Federer are his other sporting heroes.

Used to play in the Vic Harris Snooker League - 'the home of South East Essex league snooker'.

Highest break came in last season's UK Championship qualifiers, 143.

Not so trivial perhaps, but was the subject of bribery allegations from Rob James, who he came from 3-0 down to beat 4-3 in the final PIOS event at Prestatyn - and hence earn promotion.

Was said to have offered James - who had nothing to play for - £1,000 to throw the match - which was played without a referee - on several occasions.

"Everyone who had anything to do with the (subsequent) hearing said they'd heard that I'd said it," said Selt. "It was just Chinese whispers. I absolutely did not offer bribes.

"The fact he (James) didn't attend the hearing and didn't get back in touch with them proves he didn't want anything to do with it.

"It's cost me £13,000 and it's very slanderous; £3,000 in legal fees and my sponsorship deal for this year."

Selt was cleared of the allegations.