Summary of the opening session
A tired Jak Jones had the worst start to a Crucible final in 33 years.
And although he avoided a whitewash in the first session, the qualifier will need to stage a Dennis Taylor-style comeback to take home the £500,000 top prize.
The 30-year-old Welshman couldn't have imagined a more terrible start to his first foray into the business side of the world. Snooker Championship.
The Silent Killer watched hopelessly from his seat as the pre-match favorite Kyren Wilson ended the opening session with a 7-1 lead.
Liverpool cueist John Parrott won the first seven frames of the 1991 world final against Jimmy White before triumphing 18-11.
At least Jones managed to take the eighth frame with a break of 65, which he celebrated with an ironic punch in the air.
Had he been eight frames behind it would have equaled the dreadful scoreline Taylor faced in the famous 1985 Black Ball final with Steve Davis.
It is remarkable that the Northern Ireland Potter fought back in epic fashion to claim an 18-17 victory after midnight as millions watched on TV.
Clinical Wilson, 32, opened the two-day final – his first since 2020 – with a spectacular break of 129.
It is the first final since 1993 – when Stephen Hendry defeated Jimmy White 18-5 – in which the opening frame has seen a huge break.
That day 31 years ago, Hendry, 55, opened with a 136 and never looked back.