Zak Surety will make his debut at the Crucible this month after three brilliant wins in World Championship qualifying as his career-best purple patch continues.
The 33-year-old had never been to a ranking quarter-final before the World Open began in February but he made it to the semis in Yushan and narrowly missed out on the final in a tight defeat to John Higgins.
It was a painful loss after having a chance to win in the deciding frame against the four-time world champion, but he has not let defeat get him down.
Surety was fabulous in his three wins at the English Institute of Sport, downing Antoni Kowalski 10-2 in his opener, before an immense 10-8 win over Jack Lisowski.
The Essex man found himself 8-5 behind but reeled off the last five frames with breaks of 100, 80, 64 and 103 along the way.
He then had a tough test in Ricky Walden on Judgement Day and turned in another great performance to win 10-3, booking his Crucible debut in style.
It was brilliant stuff from the world number 73, but he wasn’t feeling entirely composed throughout.
‘I’m trying not to cry,’ Surety told WST. ‘Tonight went exactly how I wanted it over the hour I had off. I was alright this afternoon but I got myself at it, even though I was always in control.
‘I was playing alright, but I was getting to frame balls and starting to worry. All the bad things what you shouldn’t think of started sliding in.
‘I was on 68 and thinking, why do I feel ok here? I should be a complete wreck. I felt alright. I didn’t feel alright, but I felt better than I’d ever expect in that position, because I dream about it most nights.
‘I had a semi the other week in China, which was amazing, but it was devastating the loss. I was thinking it can’t happen again, surely it’s my turn, and thankfully it is.’
Surety now waits for Thursday morning’s draw and has now preference on what name he is pulled out alongside.
‘They’re all brilliant aren’t they,’ he said. ‘It doesn’t matter.’
Daniel Wells joins Surety as a debutant in the draw this year after a late night 10-9 win for the Welshman over Gary Wilson.
There were also wins for Dave Gilbert, Ben Woollaston, Ryan Day, Zhou Yuelong, Zhao Xintong and Chris Wakelin on night one of the two Judgement Days.
Eight more players will join them on Wednesday, with the qualifiers to join the top 16 in the draw on Thursday morning.