Chris Wakelin moved Steve Davis to tears at the Crucible last year - and now he's out to build on the lessons he learnt 12 months ago. Wakelin moved six-time World Champion Davis to tears with a daring yellow during his last-16 victory over Mark Allen.

The 34-year-old put in a fine performance to beat 2010 World Champion Neil Robertson in the opening round of last year's competition before beating Allen 10-6. His run in the competition ended when the eventual winner, Zhao Xintong, beat him in the quarter-finals and Wakelin admits he was physically drained by the time he reached the final eight.

"The one thing that stood out for me last year was how physically drained I was when I got through to the quarter-finals," he says.

"He (Zhao Xintong) had to go through two more qualifying matches than I did, and you could tell he was below his best as we have played each other in what we both would have considered a huge match, and we both really struggled, but he just struggled slightly less.

EXPRESS SPORT ON FB!Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page

"In terms of what I wanted to achieve in the last 12 months, it was to get myself a lot fitter, be a lot more physically prepared, and improve on the table as well.

"I'm not a triathlete by any imagination, but I do a fair bit of running and gym work, as I am also with a dietitian now as well. I am a hell of a lot fitter than I was last time I was at the Crucible, and hopefully that pays dividends.

"I think it is very relevant; just because you are doing all the right things, practising harder than everyone and cutting out the nights out and junk food doesn't mean you are guaranteed to get results, but it definitely gives you that extra one or two per cent which, at the highest level of elite sport, separates the winner and the loser.

"Last year I got a taste of everything. I played amazingly to get a long way in front of Neil, but then I had to really scrap it out to find a way over the line.

"And then I played really well against Mark Allen, and I don't think anyone really expected it. Running out of gas against Zhao Xintong was disappointing, but I have learnt a lot.

"Those two matches you could argue were my biggest: winning my first match at the Crucible and then getting through the quarter-finals, but I am just out there to do my very best. If I can get through to the one-table setup this year, then who knows where the limit is?"

Wakelin stormed to an emotional win at the BetVictor Scottish Open just before Christmas, taking eight frames in a row to crush Chang Bingyu 9-2. Success at the Meadowbank Sports Centre came just months after Ronnie O'Sullivan described Wakelin as a 'monster' after he pushed 'The Rocket' all the way in the semi-finals of the Saudi Arabia Masters.

"The coolest thing about it was he had just played probably the best match of his career; unfortunately for me, it was the match in Saudi to get into the final of the biggest money tournament we have got," Wakelin said when asked about O'Sullivan's comments.

"It came at just the wrong time for me for him to make two 147s and two other total clearances as well. He said in his interview afterwards he described me as a monster, which is flattering, when he said he thought I would be winning a big tournament soon.

"It is very flattering and nice to hear, but you have got to go out and do it. So to go on to win the Scottish Open at the tail end of last year after what has been a pretty topsy-turvy season, those kind words are all well-meaning. To then back it up by winning a massive tournament like the Scottish Open was very validating, but more for me than anyone else.

"It doesn't matter in this sport who believes in you because if you don't believe in yourself, pack your bags and go and do something else because reasons one, two and three to believe in yourself is you have got to trust yourself.

"I am now excited to be heading to the Crucible as a seed for the first time. I have had 12 years, and normally when this time of year comes around, I am playing two, three or four qualifying matches to get through to the venue.

"So to already be in that draw is a massive achievement. It is not just an overnight thing; it is 13 years as a pro and then, prior to that, 15 years playing before I took this as a job."