Snooker star is EastEnders obsessed and won't miss an episode during World Championship

-mad Zak Surety will be using Phil Mitchell as inspiration during his dream Crucible debut. The world No.73 is the lowest-ranked player at this year's and faces Chinese superstar Ding Junhui today. Essex potter Surety, 33, usually watches every minute of the 17-day marathon on the sofa in his pants.

But after an 11-year journey he will finally be taking centre stage like the stars of years gone by he watches on YouTube. "It's huge, it's your dream to play there," beamed Surety. "I won't be missing EastEnders. It goes on the iPlayer at 6am, so I am well prepped, don't worry about that.

"It's perfect prep for a game - Phil Mitchell and then the Crucible I'm the biggest snooker nerd when it comes to the Crucible. I like to sit in my pants for 17 days and just watch every session on TV. I don't move.

"10am to midnight every day, just watching snooker. So to be involved with it is unreal. I will probably sit back and watch YouTube videos, Crucible videos, visualise I am there, pretend I am Steve Davis.

"I've never been there before to watch as a fan. We have a lot of qualifiers here [in Sheffield]. I like going for a run; A few years ago, I thought I had never actually seen the place. I typed it into my iPhone maps, running around, 'where is it?'

"I saw the Stage Door and I felt my knees buckle. I though maybe one day. Nah, it won't happen. And now wow, it's here."