World Championship EXCLUSIVE Interview with Joe Perry

One of the players of this season has to be Joe Perry, a player that has made the latter stages of events throughout the season and has really been competitive throughout the season from start to this point. What would he give to finish the season off in style with a run in the World Championships that would equal his current Crucible best of the semi-finals? Find that all out and more in my interview with the man they call "The Gentleman" right here:

Firstly Joe, this has been a brilliant season for you reaching the latter stages of a lot of ranking events this season, and winning one of the Asian Tour events at the very start of the season. Would you put it down as one of your best ever seasons since turning professional?

This has probably been my best ever season as a professional.

I mentioned it briefly there, but how pleasing for you was it to win your first ever ranking event of any kind (this being a minor ranking event) at the Yixing Open, and did this give you the confidence to achieve what you have done in the rest of the season?

It was a fantastic feeling to finally win a ranking event and I think it had a big impact on my season, it gave me some self-belief which has always been missing.

This season you have reached the quarter-finals of the Players Championship, Wuxi Classic, German Masters and Australian Open, as well as reaching the semi-finals of the Welsh Open and the International Championship. Which one of those would you say was your best performance, and are do you feel that you should’ve won any of those events?

I'd say the International was my best performance as I played well in every match but I do feel that the PTC finals was probably my best chance to win one.

Onto the World Championships then, how do you rate your chances of having a good run at the Crucible this year, after a nice confidence boosting year?

Who knows, the field is so strong this year and it really is one match at a time.

Your best performance in Sheffield is the semi-finals in 2008, do you believe you can better this this year, or at least before your career is over, and do you think you will ever win a World Championship?

It will be tough because I'm in the same section as Ronnie O’Sullivan but hopefully I will have a few more cracks at it.

Having not qualified for the China Open, do you think that extra week off to prepare will give you a better chance, or do you think that it’s irrelevant?

I don't think it makes a difference to be honest.

A lot of players have complained in the past about being burnt out when the World Championships have come around. Do you think it is possible to be burnt out from all of the playing and travelling, or is it just a myth?

I'm not sure it's burnout, probably more due to a loss of form at the wrong time, it's hard to play at the top of your game all season long.

You practice a lot with world No.1 Neil Robertson these days, he’s said on a few occasions how much that has helped his game. Do you think that has also helped your game considerably, and do you and Neil spur each other on?

Yes it has helped and I do think we both want each other to win even if we don't always show it.

Is there a lot of Football banter between you and Neil, given the fact that he is a Chelsea fan (or a Man Utd fan depending on who you ask) and you’re an Arsenal fan?

Yes the only time we argue is when we talk about football.

Who are your other big friends on the tour who you socialise with most at tournaments?

My main friends on tour are Barry Hawkins, Gerrard Greene, Mark Davis and Holty (Michael Holt) but I pretty much get on with everyone.

What do you enjoying do most when you are away from the snooker table?

Spending time with my family and the odd game of golf with my oldest friends.

Do you still have high hopes of winning a full ranking event?

Yes I still believe I have a win or two in me, I'd find it hard to carry on if I didn't.

You’re managed by the brilliant On Q promotions player management company, who are also involved with a lot of young players. Who do you think the brightest of their young players is, and who do you think are the brightest young prospects in the game currently?

I'd say Michael White is the best young player they have but Shane Castle looks an exciting prospect.

What do you aim to achieve in the remainder of your career (other than to win a major ranking event as I mentioned) and what do you want to do when you finish playing?

I just want to stay competitive and keep enjoying snooker. I'm currently building a property portfolio so I'll probably go into that if I can win enough money!

You’re 39 now, reaching the Big 40 in August (like you need reminding) so how long do you think you have left in the game, and when will you know that it’s time to retire?

I have no idea, I'm not worried about the new players coming through, more concerned with how much longer I will love playing snooker, once that day arrives then it's time to stop. Hopefully a long time yet.

I'd like to thank Joe a lot for taking part in the interview and I would like to wish him the best of luck in his World Championship campaign.

Stay tuned here for more interviews and features as we run through the World Snooker Championships for 2014.