Neil Robertson: 'The draw at the Crucible is ridiculous. Champions all the way'

You became the first Australian to win a ranking event, at the Grand Prix in October, and added a second ranking title with a to-the-wire comeback in February's Welsh Open. With your first match at this year's World Championship, against Ryan Day, starting on Wednesday, how confident are you? I'm very confident; why shouldn't I be? I've won two tournaments this season and secured my place in the top 10, whereas Ryan needs to win to secure his own ranking. But the draw is so hard it's ridiculous. I'm effectively facing a top 16 player, Ryan, in the last 32, and if I get through that, next it would be either Ronnie O'Sullivan or Ding Junhui - the two pre-tournament favourites - with a possible quarter-final against John Higgins. Even after that I'd probably need to beat other world champions all the way. I can't see how it could be tougher.

You seemed frustrated last year, to put it mildly, when you lost in the quarter-finals, 13-12 to Graeme Dott, having come from 12-8 down. Did Dott's eventual triumph in the final make you feel better, or worse? I was very disappointed to lose that, but I believe it made me a better player. I've got more chance this year as I have a more attacking style. Dott has also improved, and changed his game for the better, and he beat me 5-1 at the China Open. But his first-round elimination on Saturday showed how tough the Crucible can be.

You are available at odds as long as 18-1 to win at the Crucible. Do you think there are seven better players in the world right now? And would you recommend a punt at those odds? The top half of the draw is full of top players, so if I were gambling with my own money I would pick players in the bottom half.

Are you a gambler? No, not a gambler at all, although I have taken part in a poker challenge for sportsmen and women, arranged by PartyPoker.com, which was eventually won by a snooker player, Ken Doherty.

If you get past Day, O'Sullivan or Ding will be next. They began their first-round match yesterday. Who would you prefer to face? And what has your form been like against them? I would prefer Ronnie O'Sullivan, because I've beaten him twice this season and then gone on to win the tournament on each occasion.

After your Grand Prix success, which you said had been preceded by a month of abstinence from clubbing and alcohol, how exactly did you celebrate? By going out with my friends in Cambridge for about a month, which wasn't a good idea because I didn't play well in the next tournament!

The strength in depth on the circuit has never been better, but snooker is frequently derided these days as a sport lacking in personalities. Do you agree? And what case would you make for yourself as someone who can shake that up? There are plenty of characters on the circuit; it's the job of the TV people to get to know them a little better.

You spend part of the year living in Melbourne, and part in Cambridge. Why Cambridge? It's a good club I practise at, with good facilities and plenty of practice partners. And Cambridge is a nice place!

Australia has a famously successful sporting culture. Who do you rate as your country's top five sporting heroes, and why? Shane Warne, because he's the greatest bowler of all time. Nathan Buckley, the captain of the Aussie Rules team I support, Collingwood Magpies, and a living legend in the game. Ricky Ponting, because he got the Ashes back. Steve Waugh - class personified. And Gianfranco Zola. I know he's not Australian, strictly speaking. Or at all, in fact. But he did play a charity game in Sydney in December, and there have been rumours he might coach Down Under, so that's good enough for me. Skill to burn.

What other sport, if any, might you have excelled at? None.

Where does snooker come in the sporting pecking order Down Under? Can you walk down the street unrecognised? I can walk down the street unrecognised, but I'm in the Premier League next year, which will be shown on Australian TV, so that may change.

You're a Chelsea fan: since when? What chance of the quadruple this season? Since I watched a decent goal by Zola. And yes, I think they have a great chance.

What single sporting event would you pay most of your own money to see? Chelsea winning the Champions League final.

What are most played five tracks on your iPod? Dance tracks and Metallica.

What was the last book you read? And the best? Maradona's autobiography.

You can have a dinner party for six guests, from any time in history. Who? Where do you eat, and what? Walter Lindrum, Australia's world billiards champion between the 1930s and 1950, who had 57 world records and was known as "the Bradman of billiards". He knew Bradman. Next would be Don Bradman himself and Shane Warne. Jose Mourinho. Jim Carrey. Tiger Woods. We'd dine at a beach restaurant on the Gold Coast, and eat my mum's vegetarian lasagne, washed down with sparkling apple juice.