While he missed out on the latter stages of the recent China Open, Bond won all his first-round matches in ranking events with the exception of the Welsh Open, where he was whitewashed by the world junior champion Liang Wenbo.

His consistency in getting past the first round of events has effectively assured him of a place in the top 32 but it has been disappointing that the 40-year-old has failed to record consecutive victories at any of this year's tournaments.

The 1996 British Open champion has a very respectable record at The Crucible, the highlight obviously being his final appearance in 1995, when he lost out 18-9 to Stephen Hendry.

He also made the quarter-finals in 1993 and 1994 as well as progressing to the semi-final stage in 1996, only to be thwarted by Hendry on all three occasions.

Bond has not won a match in Sheffield since 1999, which coincided with the last time he was in the top 16.

Drawn against Hendry, he is unlikely to stop that streak this year.

Prediction: First-round checkout