Anticipation for this year's World Snooker Championship has been building ever since Ronnie O'Sullivan announced that he would be returning to defend his World Title.
Having played only one competitive match all season it was intriguing to see how 'The Rocket' would play back at the venue where he claimed his fourth World Championship last May.
However, Gloucestershire has its own stars of the green baize on display at the Crucible Theatre.
Jack Lisowski has had a breakthrough season reaching the television stages of the UK Championship back in December and a run to the quarter-finals of the China open has seen him rise into the world's top forty.
The Churchdown talent began his Crucible campaign against Australian Open Champion Barry Hawkins and got off to a great start recovering 53 points down and knocked in a break of 82 to win the first frame.
After this Hawkins took control and breaks of 59 and 50 helped him to lead 3-1.
After their interval Lisowski immediately pulled a frame back by knocking in his first Crucible century, but yet again Hawkins took control and knocks of 97 and 100 moved him 6-2 ahead before Lisowski won a scrappy final frame and will have to win seven frames if he wants to make it through to the second round.
Lisowski is not the only local talent on display, Gloucester cue man Robert Milkins is making his first appearance in Sheffield since 2005 and with the form he is in he will be looking to finish his season with a flourish.
The world number nineteen has made two major quarter-final appearances this season at the Wuxi Classic and the Welsh Open. Milkins has to get past 2010 World Champion Neil Robertson if he is to progress and he begins his World Championship on Wednesday afternoon.
Defending World Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan showed little signs of rustiness as he cruised into the second round with a comfortable 10-4 win over Scotland's Marcus Campbell.
These sign were apparent from the start with a nicely complied 82.
Breaks of 85 and 86 helped him to take a five frame advantage into the final session. His first century of the season, let alone the match, and a 90 made sure his title defence got off to an ominous start.
Wuxi Classic winner Ricky Walden stood out as the star performer on the first day as he moved into an 8-1 lead over Michael Holt with a high break of 140. Walden, who had previously beaten Ronnie O'Sullivan to win his first ranking title, also had breaks 55, 76 and 78 as he dominated an out of sort Holt.
Day 1 results and scores:
Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-4 Marcus Campbell
Ricky Walden 8-1 Michael Holt *
Barry Hawkins 6-3 Jack Lisowski *
Mark Williams 4-5 Michael White *
* Denotes end of session
