What challenges do you think you still have left in the sport?
There isn't too much left for me to do so I have to make new challenges up. We are opening up some academies in the Far East, we're starting off one in Singapore, we're writing a new TV show which hopefully will come on British TV. I still like to go on the exhibition circuit - so you have to make your own challenges. Winning tournaments doesn't interest me anymore, they can be a bit of an anti-climax. I need to find stuff that I am really passionate about and things I can get excited about.

Of all the times you have been world champion, which time was the most special and meant most to you?
It's difficult because a lot of the tournaments you win they have been a bit of an anti-climax. The enjoyment for me is when I am in the heat of battle - there are moments I am playing and I am really loving this competition, I'm loving the battle against my opponent - that's where the enjoyment comes from. When it's over, then you think it's kind of done.

If you had to choose another sport, what would it be?
I'd like to race cars - anything like Formula 1, Touring Cars - 100% it would be to race cars. I think I would be really good at it! I am a bit of an adrenaline junkie - if my dad had have put in a go-kart then that might have been the sport for me.

What are your expectations for this year's World Championships?
I'd like to put in a good performance in my first match and then take it from there. I really don't look any further than that.

Any other players we should be looking out for at this year's World Championships?
It's difficult to pick anybody out. It's hard for anyone to break through beyond the top five or top six players - it doesn't really happen. Maybe Ding Junhui could have a good run but that could depend on him relying on not playing certain players. You have got your five or six that are capable of winning the tournament no matter who they are playing. After that, a lot of the others are relying on the snooker gods to shine on them to make it happen.

What would be a good tournament for you?
I always say a quarter-finals at the World Championships is a great achievement. You win a couple of matches, you've experienced getting to the second week of the tournament. It sounds crazy, but I would prefer to lose in the quarter-finals than the final to be honest - once you get that far, you make the semis and the final, it's all about getting the win. For me, if you get to the quarter-finals it's not the end of the world, there was no guarantee I was going to win it and I was never near the finishing line anyway. It doesn't matter so much - it's a lot easier to get over a quarter-final loss than a semi-final or a final loss.

Do you think snooker can ever compete with other traditional sports?
It's difficult - you look at all these other sports - Formula 1, tennis and golf - it's all about image and they are very conscious how they present themselves and we don't really have that in snooker. In Formula 1, tennis and golf they are superstars.

Do you like surprising the crowd when you are playing and how do you do it?
Well I certainly enjoy proving people wrong. I love being written off and I think a lot of people are scared to write me off now because everytime they do I come back and win a world title or something. I'm always looking out for someone to question my ability because that spurs me on. I still play to get that little kick, it's not so much winning or being the best player on the planet any more, it's about finding that thing I can look back on and think "that was cool"

What other athletes would you identify with the most?
That's difficult to answer. I was listening to Rory McIlroy the other day and he said he was at Tiger Woods' house and said that he only had his major trophies on display, where were the other trophies? To which Tiger replied, "I don't know, I think my mum has got them.." It made me realise how unimportant all the other tournaments were to Tiger. It's not that they weren't important, but sometimes you just use them tournaments to just see where your game is at. Your whole career, subconsciously, is around peaking at certain times.

For me, all my life, I've always said I've got my eye on certain tournaments over others. I just make sure I am ready and ensure I give myself the best opportunity - that's why I don't get too up or down around winning or losing because it is just like practice really to see where your game is. If I win one of the big tournaments like the World Championship or one of the big events in China then I'm happy. 

Eurosport will broadcast all 17 days of the World Snooker Championship LIVE from Saturday 17 April to Monday 3 May. Head to eurosport.com/snooker for all the latest news, views and interviews from the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.