Mark Allen, the highest ranked player in the field yet to win the title, fended off a late rally from Robbie Williams to win 10-6 in the first round of the Cazoo World Championship.
World number three Allen has been a prolific winner on the tour over the past two years and is on target to take over as world number one at the end of this season. By his own high standards, the Northern Irishman's record at the Crucible is disappointing - his run to the semi-finals last year, where he lost narrowly 17-15 to Mark Selby, was only his second appearance in the one table set up.
Allen is fiercely determined to lift snooker's most famous trophy - which would complete the Triple Crown as he has already won the UK Championship and the Masters. Making his 18th consecutive appearance at the Crucible, he is through to the second round for the 13th time and will face Jamie Jones or John Higgins next.
The 38-year-old, who has won three titles this season, was far from his best against Williams but did enough to avoid becoming the eighth seeded player to fall at the first hurdle. Breaks of 70 and 80 helped him build a 7-2 lead in Tuesday's first session. World number 45 Williams, the lowest ranked player in the field, took the first frame today with a run of 77 and added the next for 7-4.
Allen took frame 12 then won a 49-minute 13th on the colours. After the interval, Williams continued to battle, making breaks of 53 and 86 to close to 9-6. But Allen eventually got the job done in the 16th with his highest break of the match, 114.
"You have to get this first match out of the way before you can settle into the tournament," said the Pistol. "I played well yesterday and felt in control. My safety was good and I was getting the better of those battles. But today I made some mistakes and took my foot off the gas at 9-4. When it went 9-6 it was 'game on' because Robbie has beaten me 4-0 before. I had to switch back on and it was good to make a century to finish the match.
"I have been winning a lot of matches this season though I am not as confident as I want to be in my own game. Last year I got to the semi-finals and ran Mark Selby close despite being nowhere near my best. So I know I just have to hang in there and get the most out of my bad sessions.
"I would love to play John Higgins next because it would be great to be out there against one of the all time greats. I have played him five times already this season and I always enjoy it."