Snooker: Crucible debutant Mark Allen has no doubt his 888.com World Championship victory over former champion Ken Doherty is the biggest of his life.
The 21-year-old qualifier held his nerve to seal yet another early shock, claiming a 10-7 first-round victory over the 1997 champion to book a meeting with two-time finalist Matthew Stevens.
"I beat Steve Davis and John Higgins in an invitation event last year but that was over a short number of frames, so to beat Ken Doherty in the best of 19 at the Crucible is definitely my best win," said Allen.
"I was really nervous out there when I first started (on the second morning), I can see why people come here and crumble.
"Going into the match everyone was expecting Ken to win, but being 6-3 up everyone is expecting me to lead from the front and win the match. It's a different sort of pressure and I have to admit I didn't handle it very well to start with."
The number three seed began brightly, taking the opening three frames of the day to draw level as former world amateur champion Allen began to show signs of cracking under the pressure.
But despite a break of 135 - the highest of the tournament so far - Doherty was unable to get his nose in front as the Antrim-based youngster closed out the final three frames with breaks of 68, 54 and 50.
Doherty, who follows reigning champion Graeme Dott and fellow seeds Barry Hawkins and Steve Davis out at the first-round stage, revealed the defeat was "hard to swallow" after his early exit ruined any chance of becoming world number one for a first time.
He said: "I'm gutted. I didn't play well - it's hard to swallow. I thought I did everything right with my preparations but he played superbly well. He was very hard to contain and I did not play as well as I can.
"When you practice for six or seven hours a day it's so frustrating you start to wonder whether it's worth it."