Snooker / Ralph Ellis / 07 January 2010 /

It may be wintry outside - but inside it's warm. So all the more reason for Betfair to stay indoors and talk to snooker star Mark King before the start of Sunday's Masters at Wembley

Hi Mark, looking forward to the first big tournament of the year?

Absolutely, been practising hard and ready to go

You've had five seasons in the top 16 now, so what's the plan for 2010?

Well over the years I've been in it, out of it, in it and back out and in again, so the aim now is to try to kick on a bit, to win some tournaments obviously, but to try to make sure I'm not sort of on the edges any more but really solidly in the top group of players

What do you have to do to achieve that?

It's a bit more consistency, try to be more solid. I can have days when the balls are going in and days when they aren't so good, and it's trying to even that out

A lot of that seems to be in the mind with you?

Of course it is, when you're playing well you don't even think about the game, you see what's in front of you and just play the shots, but when you're not it's not so easy. I'm determined to make it better though. I want to play this game at the top level for as long as I can. That's why I've been going to the gym three times a week, practising and working hard to keep going

Have you tried sports psychology?

Yes, I'm into all that, I'm into hypnotherapy and that sort of stuff. I've bought some Paul McKenna books and tapes and I read and listen to them, how to be more confident, I listen to the CDs, I've found it's really good and gets me ready. It's all about getting myself focused, you can't hide behind a team like in other sports. I mean if a footballer is having a bad day the manager can just drag him off at half time and get somebody else to have a go, but on the snooker table that's not possible. It's all down to you to sort your own performance out.

We don't want to be cruel but as a West Ham fan you know all about footballers having bad days this season!

You're not wrong! And I've been reading about they might sell Carlton Cole to Arsenal. If that happens I dread to think what comes next!

Do you see them play much?

Not really, no, my boy plays for Southend so I go to watch him, although I want to take him to a Premier League game before the year's out. My lad - he's called Freddie - is in what's called the shadow squad because he's too young at eight for them to sign him up yet, but it's great watching him enjoy going with them.

You start off against Jimmy White in the Masters, isn't he a bit of a hero to you?

Very much. I thought he was brilliant in the Jungle. I grew up admiring him and Alex Higgins, it's just one of those things that it's still amazing to find myself playing against him now

You've got a good record against him too

Yes, I beat him the very first time we played at the Masters back in 1999. He's one of the greats, so it's always a bit of an inspiration

Your game couldn't be more of a contrast to Jimmy or to Ronnie O'Sullivan. Do you ever want to be a bit more flamboyant?

(Laughs) I know what you're leading too, I got the record for the longest frame at the Crucible last year when I played Stephen Maguire. It's one of the worst records to have, maybe, but then again I'm not ashamed of it if I end up winning. I'll take half an hour to weigh up a shot if that's what it takes. Don't get me wrong I'd love to step up and smash 80s, 90s and centuries, but I'm much more bothered about winning. It's not a race.

Are you still working with Terry Griffiths?

Yes I am, I talk to him regularly after tournaments and before and he helps me with certain aspects, especially the mental sides to the game. You can't help but learn from. somebody that experienced

Changing the subject completely we can't help noticing all your tattoos!

I've just had another one actually, on my finger underneath where my wedding ring goes. I've had the nickname that my wife and I call each other written there, so if my ring ever comes off you can see it. I had another one a short time ago on my back, and there's a space ready for another one soon with the name when our third child is born

Congratulations, when will that be?

In the next six weeks. We've had the scans so we know it will be a little girl, although I don't know yet what the name will be. My wife, bless her, has got her hormones all over the place at the moment and can't decide. It's Pollyanna one day and probably Doris the next!

Brilliant. We hope there's a Masters winners' cheque to help pay for the celebrations. We've a free £50 bet for a favourite charity.

That's very generous, but as I go to a GA meeting every week I'll let you choose both the charity and the bet!

As Mark's a West Ham fan, we chose the Bobby Moore Foundation as the charity, and the Hammers to beat Wolves 2-0 on Sunday at [9.6].

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