Four to watch

We have a look at the four players who are hoping to cause an upset in Berlin this weekend.

LASSE MUNSTERMANN (pictured)

Germany

Date of birth: 6/4/79

Highest tournament break: 138

Lasse Munstermann, three times the German champion, competed on the professional circuit during the 2000/01 season and remains one of his country's leading players.

In 2007, he won the European Team Championship with Sascha Lippe and Itaro Santos, the first international title for German snooker. Like Ronnie O'Sullivan, Munstermann can play both right and left-handed.

Germany

Date of birth: 22/4/87

Highest tournament break: 146

Patrick Einsle, a semi-finalist in the 2005 and 2006 European Under 19 Championship, appeared on the professional circuit during the 2006/07 season.

Einsle, who began playing snooker at the age of ten, will move to the UK this year to concentrate on getting back on the pro tour.

New Zealand

Date of birth: 9/8/83

Highest tournament break: 145

Chris McBreen is a New Zealander who has lived in Germany since 2007. He played on the professional circuit during the 2001/02 season and has qualified again next season after finishing runner-up to Glen Wilkinson in the Oceania Championship.

McBreen started playing at 17 but had to lie about his age to pursue his hobby as his local club had an age restriction of 20. He also enjoys swimming and chess.

Belgium

Date of birth: 11/9/70

Hans Blanckaert started playing snooker at the age of 15. He received coaching from legendary carom player Raymond Ceulemans and made his first century within a year.

Blanckaert made his first 147 in practice at 17 and currently competes on snooker's secondary tour, the PIOS. He is from Bruges but lives in Ulm, Germany

Graeme Dott (Scotland) v Chris McBreen (New Zealand)

John Higgins (Scotland) v Lasse Münstermann (Germany)

Stephen Maguire (Scotland) v Hans Blanckaert (Belgium)

Shaun Murphy (England) v Patrick Einsle (Germany)

Dott/McBreen v Higgins/Munstermann

Maguire/Blanckaert v Murphy/Einsle