Joe O'Connor made a dramatic last-gasp clearance to beat Sanderson Lam on the opening evening of the 9Club Shoot Out in Leicester.
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Local favourite O'Connor looked dead and buried when he trailed 44-20 with just a minute to go, but he was handed an opportunity when Lam went in-off. O'Connor potted red, black, red, black, red and blue for a winning break of 22 as the clock reached zero.
"My heart was pumping," smiled former Scottish Open finalist O'Connor. "The adrenaline was going in the last few seconds. When Sanderson went in-off I knew I should win it and luckily it went my way. I'm one of the slower players on the tour but I enjoy this event, it's good for the crowd. It's an opportunity for anyone in the field. I haven't played well this season but I recently changed my cue and then won a pro-am so hopefully I have turned a corner."
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, champion in 2019, beat crowd favourite Jimmy White to book his place in the last 64. White looked favourite when he was among the balls leading 30-15, but accidentally feathered the cue ball and that gifted Un-Nooh the chance to make a crucial 36.
China's Si Jiahui had the highest break of the opening day, a 78 to beat Jordan Brown. Ma Hailong enjoyed an exuberant celebration after beating Ian Burns with a run of 54.
Round one concludes on Thursday.