Devastation was avoided for Judd Trump after a last-frame decider saw him edge past Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and into the World Championship second round.
Trump was 6-3 down after the first session and struggling but eradicated the mistakes that plagued his opening day to clinch a dramatic 10-9 win.
The match was littered with errors between two of snooker’s most exciting talents but the experience told for Trump in the end, a match with Ding Junhui his reward at the Crucible.
But there’s still work to be done if the 29-year-old wants to leave with a smile on his face, feeling he has yet to reach his heights despite reaching the final back in 2011.
“I wasn’t gifting him easy chances like I did in the first session, I was missing a lot then but this time I was making him work for his chances,” admitted Trump.
“His long potting was a lot better, he was scoring heavily and I was relieved to get a half-chance in that last frame after he split the balls open.
“It was always going to be a top draw, he was one of the names people wanted to avoid and he’s one of the best players around. A scary type of play to face.
The @Betfred World Championship is snooker's marathon...
— World Snooker (@WorldSnooker) April 24, 2019
But @judd147t had to out-sprint Thepchaiya Un-Nooh to make the last 16!
Ding next 🍿 #ilovesnooker pic.twitter.com/V7VgdR3PZ4
“I’m relieved to win from 6-3 down, that’s a great win for me.
“I don’t think I’ve ever really played well at the Crucible, since 2011 it’s always been a bit of a struggle or I’ve always tried too hard. You’re devastated when you’re out first round and as a top-16 player you’re putting extra pressure on yourself.
“In the end it was experience that got me over the line."
Watch the World Championship LIVE on Eurosport and Eurosport Player with analysis from Jimmy White and Neal Foulds
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