John Higgins emerged from the opening session of his quarter-final meeting with old adversary Mark Williams leading 5-3 at the Halo World Championship.
The pair have crossed cues 42 times on the World Snooker Tour, since they turned professional in 1992. Scottish 49-year-old Higgins leads the head-to-head 22-20, but it's 50-year-old Welshman Williams who has prevailed four times in their five Crucible meetings.
They met in then 2018 world final, which is heralded as one of the greatest ever matches to take place at the Theatre of Dreams, when Williams won 18-16.
Higgins ended a four year ranking title drought this year with recent wins at the World Open and the Tour Championship. Williams won the Champion of Champions earlier in the season, but has admitted in the leadup to this tournament that he's struggling with his eyesight. He's booked in for lens replacement surgery this summer.
When play got underway this morning the players were greeted by a standing ovation. It was four-time World Champion Higgins who made the fastest start after the fanfare, crafting runs of 69, 65, 52 and 80 to move 5-1 ahead.
With his back to the ropes, three-time Crucible king Williams hit back with breaks of 104 and 59 to take the last two of the session and end 5-3 behind. They return at 7pm.
On the other table, China's former UK Champion Zhao Xintong stormed to a 6-2 lead over International Championship runner-up Chris Wakelin. After losing the opening frame, breaks of 69 and 92 helped Zhao to six on the bounce to turn the game on its head. Crucially it was Wakelin who took the last of the session on the pink. They also play the second of three sessions at 7pm.