Last five seasons: 28-46-67-58-56
Date of birth: 12-06-75
Lives: Dublin
Turned professional: 1992
Best ranking event performance: Quarter-finals - British Open 1997
Last season's prize money: £52,225
Career prize money: £165,723
Highest tournament break: 141 - Benson and Hedges Championship 1999

Michael Judge played a starring role for the Republic of Ireland in the 2001 Coalite Nations Cup at Reading. He was the deciding-frame hero against both England and China as the Republic went all the way to the final.

The Dubliner never looked back after that and booked his place for the fist time, in the televised stages of the Embassy World Championship with a 10-7 victory over six-times runner-up Jimmy White.

He went on to beat 1991 world champion John Parrott 10-6 in the first round before going out 13-7 to fellow countryman Ken Doherty.

Judge, who had already done enough to clinch a place in the top 32, said: "Beating some of the top players in the world in front of the TV cameras at the Nations Cup gave me a bit more belief in myself. I came away from that tournament buzzing."