http://www.staffs.ac.uk/schools/art_and ... pionships/By Lloyd Reddin: Stoke potter Jamie Cope is set to open the World Snooker Championships at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
Cope will share the arena tomorrow (April 16) with World Champion Neil Robertson who faces Judd Trump on the other side of the screen.
The Staffordshire player will face qualifier Andrew Pagett, who sits 77th in the world rankings.
“I don’t think I’ve played him before,” said Cope. But he’s obviously won some tough matches to get this far, so I’m going have to be on top of my game.
“Opening the tournament will not make any difference if I’m honest. I’ll just be going out there and concentrating on my match.”
Cope, who has his own practice room underneath Reardon’s Snooker Hall in Hanley, is in his final preparations for the tournament.
“I am practising every day now and working hard. I will be ready for the match.
“The tournament is quite open this year, any one of ten players could win it.
“It’s the climax to the season and everyone knows the players that have won it in the past.”
The World Snooker Championships run from April 16 and climaxes on May 2.