Nicknames play an important role in snooker's pageantry, and announcer Rob Walker has helped build the profiles of the sport's biggest names for more than a decade.
However, the master of ceremonies' input when it comes to branding doesn't stop at mere introductions. That's after the 47-year-old appeared on the BBC's Framed snooker podcast and revealed he's even had a hand in deciding what certain stars should be called.
"A lot of those nicknames I inherited - the Rocket ( Ronnie O'Sullivan ), the Wizard of Wishaw ( John Higgins ) the Welsh Potting Machine ( Mark Williams ), the Jester from Leicester ( Mark Selby ) - most of those names were already established," said Walker. "But there is one I can definitely take credit for.
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" Neil Robertson was the Melbourne Potting Machine, which [is] fairly non-descript. I always ask the players if they are okay with this as it is their name. I asked Neil what he thought about 'The Thunder from Down Under', and he went, 'Yep, fine.' So I like that one. That one I can definitely take ownership of."
Having made his debut announcing major televised snooker competitions in 2008, Walker has crossed paths with some of the biggest talents on the circuit. Not everyone is destined for an alter ego, however, as he revealed Ricky Walden is one player where "none of them work."
"I remember the first gig I did [Telford, 2007] and Shaun Murphy took me aside," added Walker. "I think he was called 'The Warrior' or something and he said, 'Look I'm not really a violent person. I've always thought I could make the balls disappear, so do you want to call me The Magician?'
"I told him I will call him whatever he likes! Neither Judd [Trump]'s one, neither he nor I can think of anything other than The Ace In the Pack. So he's just stuck with it."
While snooker may hold a reputation as something of a stale sport in some circles, Walker revels in his duties building an atmosphere. His MC skills aren't for the audience, however, as he went on to highlight the importance of the players feeling their best.
"The most important thing in our sport are the players. So when they walk out, they deserve to feel like the dog's proverbials. We need them to perform so you want their hairs on the back of their necks to stand up. You want them to feel like they are the man, that is the role of an MC, to explain the context of who we are about to see."
