There's been some highs and lows in the first round of the Betfred World Snooker Championships. So far, it's been a tale of the 16 qualifiers, who have all given the top 16 seeds (the best in the World) a run for their money.
First on the cards to fall was, inevitably, one way or the other, the World number one Mark Selby, who despite winning the China Open weeks before, ended up being on the wrong end of the scoreline against the talented snooker player Joe Perry, a former top 16 player.
Five qualifiers through to round 2
One by one, top seeds started to drop and, at the time of writing this, there are five qualifiers through to Round Two of the flagship snooker event.
Top seeds fall
These so far are 20-year-old Lyu Haotian, who pulled off a thrilling victory against the Asian Marco Fu, who had not played a match for a few months due to eye problems.
Jack Lisowski managed to overcome a big seed in the former 2015 Champion Stuart Bingham. Jack now awaits to see who he will play in Round Two which could and will most likely be John Higgins.
Jamie Jones managed an absolutely stunning victory over the 2005 winner of the event Shaun Murphy after Murphy had been 8 - 5 up.
A key Welsh player
Jones, at the time of writing, is one of three key Welshman in the competition as leading Welsh figure Mark Williams booked his place in Round Two as a top seed to survive the scares of Round One.
Welshman Ryan Day and Scot Anthony McGill are still yet to play their first-round encounter, but big Scottish qualifying names such as Graeme Dott and Stephen Maguire have all fallen to the top seeds in Sheffield.
John Higgins is hunting a fifth World title after reaching the final last season, and with Selby out, the three "class of '92" players Mark Williams, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Higgins all must feel they have a great chance this year of lifting snooker's top prize - again - either for the third, fifth, or sixth time respectively.
Big break for Mark Williams
Mark Williams is currently in line for the £10K high break prize as he racked up an incredible 140 in his first-round match with Jimmy Robertson.
Williams, who has won three titles this season, would be hunting a third World Title if he made it all the way, 15 years after winning a second! He previously won in 2000 and 2003.
John Higgins's last title came in 2011, and O''Sullivan's in 2013.
A prize for a maximum is £40K and £10K for the high break prize.
In 2012 when Stephen Hendry made his swan song maximum at the Crucible, he pocketed £40K plus £10K - a total of £50K.
In the year Mark Williams made his maximum (2005), he pocketed a £147K reward, plus, £14K for the high break TV stage.
