Grahame: Do you want to carry on playing for a few seasons more?

Steve Davis: Hi Graham, yes I do, even though the standard is getting better and I may not reach the final stages I hope to be competing until I'm 50!

Chris Moore: What was it like playing in the qualifying stages; this was your first time wasn't it?

Steve Davis: Hi Chris, It was my first time since 1979! It was very different but of course we play a few matches under those conditions

louise roe: How are you enjoying your broadcasting role?

Steve Davis: Hi Louise, it 's very different. Firstly I'm guaranteed to be here until the final ! But I am Looking forward to the competition unfolding from a different perspective

Keith: Have you got any Welsh blood in you? I've always sworn that you must be a Welshman!

Steve Davis: Hi Keith, I'm a Davis rather than a Davies. My father may have been a milkman but I'm not too sure

Barking Mad: Hello?

Steve Davis: Hi Barking!

Hello world: What have you been making of the tournament so far - are the playing standards still rising?

Steve Davis: Hi, there've been a few problems with the table but Ronnie was superb last night so he is leading the pack in dragging up the standard

Lisa: Watching the amount of century breaks, what's your opinion of snooker's evolution?

Steve Davis: The increase in competitive standard - like in all other sports - has led to more sophisticated break building

Eddie: I'm a young player - how do I stay as cool as you under pressure?

Steve Davis: Make sure you're as fit as possible. It's hereditary then, I suppose

Jeff Jones: Everyone remembers that black, but apart form that what is you other strongest snooker memory?

Steve Davis: My psychotherapist has told me not to talk about this... Most memorable moment was the feeling of desolation losing to Tony Knowles. You always remember the bad moments above the good – or at least I do

Loek: How can I tell if this is the "real" Steve Davis"?

Steve Davis: err... you can't! But I was just on the telly inviting you in!!

Pete Brown: Hi Steve, who do you predict to win this year’s World Championship?

Steve Davis: From a gambling point of view pick two outsiders

BBC Host: Steve's checking the odds...

Steve Davis: Paul Hunter 14/1, Peter Ebdon 18/1

Andy Schooler: Why are you called The Nugget?

Steve Davis: As an amateur I was money in the bank for my mates who followed me round. Their little golden nugget

Craig Beazley: What was your opinion on the breakaway tour that was being proposed?

Steve Davis: It was more of an attempt to take over control of the game. I doubt there would have ever been a split

David Newlands1: Steve who was/is your toughest opponent?

Steve Davis: Stephen Hendry

Snooker Frenzy: Steve, do you think these days there will be players who are capable of winning the championship five times in a row, like Stephen did?

Steve Davis: You always think no... and you would have said that in go, but possibly there'll be a Tiger Woods in snooker. Perhaps he's 11 or 12 now

jhon burns: Steve do you think Ronnie the Rocket will win the title?

Steve Davis: He's got a fantastic chance. In many ways he's only got himself to beat

Alex Boeve: Steve? I just saw that amazing final with you and Dennis, do you think with the standard of play today, there will be such a exciting final?

Steve Davis: You can't predict when those moments are going to happen. The final between Stephen and Jimmy in the 90s was marvellous - also last year’s was pretty hot

Gwyn Evans: Hi! Alex Higgins Steve... What sort of relationship did you have with him? What was he like on a one-to-one basis?

Steve Davis: Hopefully as far away as possible from him... a relationship from distance. He was too Jekyll and Hyde for me

Nasser Hafiz: What motivates you to continue playing snooker Steve?

Steve Davis: Well, it keeps me off the streets... But I still love the challenge, even if I fail more than I succeed

Andrew Patten: Steve, I have a 10-year-old son who is playing well at club level, can you give him any tips to help him with his game?

Steve Davis: Enter as many junior competitions as possible. Take him all round the country if you need to

BBC Host: There are thousands of people joining us. Welcome. Steve's overwhelmed with your response...

Billy: Steve I'm a big fan, why is it you said that the standard in snooker is raising, how is this, players can't get any bigger or faster??

Steve Davis: Natural selection of the fittest... the same as happened in gymnastics. The kids watch the best, copy and make it their average standard - then improve on it

ian elsbury: I rate myself as a half-decent player my highest break being 124, do
you think that’s enough being that I’m 22?

Steve Davis: Enough for what??

Dave3: Steve, How close to the bottom of the cue ball do you have to hit to get a lot of back spin?

Steve Davis: erm - difficult to answer online! The lower you hit it the more spin is generated, but obviously the speed of the hit is important as well to overcome friction on the cloth

Clark Milton: Why do all snooker players flick their middle finger before they play their shot?

Steve Davis: Put two hands together... push as hard as you can... ask somebody to pull apart your fingers - you will not be able to stop somebody pulling apart your middle fingers. They make no difference to a sound bridge, therefore they're idiosyncratic

Jeff Watson: How is the pool play getting on Steve, is that your main game these days?

Steve Davis: No not my main game, but I love the game of 9-ball pool. World Championship in Cardiff in July

Maarten Wydooghe: Steve, question from Belgium - why are there so few "overseas players" in the big tournaments?

Steve Davis: Homesickness comes into it - you have to live in this country to compete and Britain has more tradition. It is a puzzle to me though

karl smith: Do you feel snooker gets the recognition it should do?

Steve Davis: Certainly not by the sports editors of papers. I feel some of them don't think it's a sport. How wrong can you be? It's one of the ultimate competitive sports

teun van: Steve, what are you thinking when you're down in your chair... how do you keep focused and don't lose your concentration? Are you sometimes thinking all kinds of things but snooker?

Steve Davis: You're playing the shots along with the other guy. The only difference is you're hoping he runs out of position

Brian Ross What do you see yourself doing after you retire?

Steve Davis: Swanning around being interesting!!

Jeff Brown: Why is John Parrott playing so tentatively seeing as he has been there for years?

Steve Davis: No match-winning confidence. I think as you get older you do get more tentative

STEVO STEVE: Who’s your favourite player?

Steve Davis: Stephen Hendry

James: What ball do you have to hit to get a good break?

Steve Davis: James, join another chatroom!!! The outside red

john bruton: I think that safety play should be abolished and players must be forced to take on difficult shots - what is your opinion on this??

Steve Davis: John, join James!!

Mark McBurney: Who's your money on for this year’s tournament? I reckon Ronnie O'Sullivan...

Steve Davis: Ronnie's a great bet... but I don't like what he's been saying about quitting

john boyde1: How many 147s have you hit in competition?

Steve Davis: One. This year the prize is £147k - I got a Lada!

richard scurr: When will snooker be an Olympic sport, if ever

Steve Davis: It's in the Asian games, which is a good start - possibly never though

John Grant: Is it ever possible to over-chalk a cue?

Steve Davis: You won't get more on the tip... and you could get more kicks. But you must chalk after every shot really

gary R: Why is the World Championship always held up in the 'north'. Some big names come from the 'south' - eg O'Sullivan and White

Steve Davis: Good question... it found its home at the Crucible when nobody wanted it in the 70s

tony hark: Do you still get the buzz out of playing today that you got in the eighties???

Steve Davis: Not exactly, but part of that is not getting to the final stages enough

helen cross: Why do you think snooker has never taken off big time in America?

Steve Davis: They have their own sports. Even 9-ball pool is pretty small over there

Wayne: How do you feel about the miss rule?

Steve Davis: Massive headache! It's better than no miss rule back in the 80s but there are times when a player is trying his heart out to hit the ball and obviously not cheating when it seems very unfair

Mike Davies1: Does the groove in your chin help keep the cue straight when striking the ball?

Steve Davis: Laughs!! It was suggested once that I had an unfair advantage. I think it was too much dribbling as a kid!

daniel hatfull: Have you used the same cue throughout your career like Hendry has?

Steve Davis: No I've chopped and changed. Now I'm back with my original - thankfully!

Stewart Lippiatt: Steve do you think you will ever play at the Crucible again?

Steve Davis: Yes

Paul Gielty: What’s the most amount of money you have won?

Steve Davis: £130k, Benson and Hedges 1997-8

Andy Thomson: Have you any further ambitions in snooker?

Steve Davis: To win one more major - but it will be tough

Brian Giddens: Steve How did you do at the trick-shot championships

Steve Davis: Survived!!

BBC Host: Joe Swail has just joined us – get your questions in now for last year’s semi-finalist

Tony: How much should I pay for a snooker cue?

Steve Davis: John Parrott's top of the range £600 .. Argos £12.50!
Joe Swail: My first cue was £8 - 100 cues later £30 ;-)

Sunil Fatania: Do you personally ever feel that you will win a finals match even losing the first couple of vital frames against a top-class player???

Steve Davis: It's so important to get off to a good start these days

ronald berg: How many hours a day do you need to practice to stay at the top?

Joe Swail: 4 or 5 hours a day… on average

Kevin Harper: Joe, can you go two steps further and win the world champs this year??

Joe Swail: Hopefully... nice to get into the SF last year. Would love to go all the way

Ella Hart: What is the significance of the waistcoats worn by most of the top players - does it denote ranking or just sponsorship?

Steve Davis: It's tradition!!! From when the game was only played by the rich - but it's somewhere to put the chalk!

Ruud Huggers: Joe/Steve, who is the most ambitious young player in the game

Joe Swail: Ronnie - gotta be. He's never won the World, have to see if he can do it

thomas jamie: When do you think Stephen Hendry will retire?

Steve Davis: Not for a while
Joe Swail: He's only 31...
Steve Davis: I don't see what benefit he'd get from it

bob1: Joe, were you annoyed not being invited to the Irish Masters this year even though you are Irish and in the top 16?

Joe Swail: Good point! Though I got in the top the 16 last year I felt I had a chance. I was prepared for the disappointment though
Steve Davis: I was pleased - it meant I got in!!
Joe Swail: Laughs!!

Liam: Steve, which country in the world do you least like going to?

Steve Davis: Dodgy... Australia - too far away

Dave spencer: I’m not very good at snooker - how do I improve my game? Like how to pot balls?

Steve Davis: Go down the club now!!
Joe Swail: Look twice before you cross the road

Terry Wilkinson: Does having a beard hamper snooker play?

Steve Davis: Terry get a life... If it's a ZZ Top one!!

Simon Beck1: Steve/Joe, at what age did you know you were going to turn pro?

Steve Davis: When I did turn in 1978
Joe Swail: 1991
Joe and Steve: It just happens...

keith kennedy: Steve/Joe, what would you be doing if you weren’t playing snooker??????

Joe Swail: Working in a pub...
Steve Davis: I hate to think... watching the World Championship probably. Asking the questions at the other end!!!

Ali Kamal Steve, do you think more old-time snooker players should take up 9-ball pool e.g Dennis Taylor?

Steve Davis: Laughs!! It's a fun game, but there's pressure at top-class level. Alex Higgins would have been a seriously great pool player

Daniel White: Do you think Stephen Hendry will increase his world title wins?

Joe Swail: Yeah - he can do. Still there at the top level. Got a good chance
Steve Davis: He's got competitive momentum at the moment

Steve Cash: Surely if snooker players turned to 9 ball after retiring, we would dominate that game?

Steve Davis: It's nowhere near as easy as that. Because you can play snooker doesn't mean you can play 9 ball

joe robertson: Steve, how's the chess going?

Steve Davis: My computer beats me on one second a move. So I've retired!!

Mark Davies: Do you ever record yourself on TV and take advice from the ever-willing commentators?!

Joe Swail: Yes - Willie Thorne. Some of the comments are not too bad
Steve Davis: I've done a couple with the wife!! (She’ll kill me for that!!)

Tim Godsalll: What you think of Paul Hunter’s chance?

Joe Swail: Very good chance. He's knuckled down this year - got the results
Steve Davis: Great pressure player from behind
Joe Swail: Laughs!! You can’t say that!
Steve Davis: No he is - honest

Colin Apps: I miss old Ray Reardon , what is he up to now?

Steve Davis: At somebody's neck!!! He plays golf a lot

Jon smyth: Do you think waistcoats have stopped women joining the game?

Steve Davis: No men have stopped women playing the game. It's changed now though

Russell Taylor: Why do you think John Higgins has not consolidated his position in the game since winning the title in 1998?

Joe Swail: Very, very competitive
Steve Davis: Too many good players
Joe Swail: Gives us all a chance

Paul Wilson1: Steve and Joe, what other sports do you enjoy playing?

Joe and Steve: Golf
Steve Davis: And watersports

Darren Bradstock: Joe/Steve, has anyone ever got a 155 break?

Steve Davis: No - Alex Higgins made a 148 break in an exhibition I believe. Many years ago...

BBC Host: Last question now... We’re very sorry if you didn’t get your question answered – the response was simply overwhelming

max power: Joe/Steve, would snooker be as popular as it is today without Hurricane Higgins?

Joe Swail: Good question... It's definitely one of the reasons why I played
Steve Davis: Probably, but it's politically correct to say no

BBC Host: Final word from Steve and Joe...

Steve Davis: Sorry if the answers were a bit short but we had so many questions... we didn't get through 1% of them. Thanks for supporting snooker
Joe Swail: I'm in action on Wednesday - watch me then!!

BBC Host: That's the end of tonight's Snookerchat. Make sure you to get back on BBC2. The snooker's back on telly in a few minutes... Many thanks to Steve Davis and Joe Swail for joining us this evening ;-)