Steve Davis, at 40, is the oldest by five years of this year's 32 World Championship contenders and unlikely to add to his six world and UK titles. Yesterday his standard rose above the mediocre only in the latter stages of his 10-6 win over Simon Bedford.
"The first round often provides the most panic-stricken snooker you'll ever see," said Davis, who is only just in the world's top 16 after failing to reach a quarter-final in the last seven ranking events this season. "When the lights go up it feels that you're wearing a rabbit-skin waistcoat, no matter how much experience you've got. It feels as if you're playing with someone else's arm."
After his win Davis revealed his secret wish: "I'd like to be regarded as the Jack Nicklaus of snooker," he said.
"It struck me last week while watching him in the US Masters that I'd love to achieve half what he's achieved in terms of age.
"If I can come back to the Crucible when I'm 50 and even just pot one ball that would be nice. I might even smile," added Davis, whose namesake Fred died last week.
Fred didn't retire until he was 78 so the younger Davis - no relation - has a good few years left in him.
"I'd like to have Fred's outlook," added Davis, who won five frames in a row to prevent world number 215 Bedford pulling off a major shock.
"His approach was a lot less intense and he played as though it didn't matter when he missed crucial shots."
Mark Williams, who beat Stephen Hendry 10-9 on a tie break black to win the Benson & Hedges Masters in February, was taken to 19 frames again yesterday before beating the 20-year-old Australian Quinten Hann 10-9 on the final pink.
John Parrott, without a tournament win this season, fell 2-1 behind to a 141 total clearance from Peter Lines, the world number 90 from Leeds, but made breaks of 72, 81, 74 and 120 in securing a 6-3 overnight lead.
Glasgow's Alan McManus survived a major scare against a player know as "Casper". McManus scored a 10-8 victory over Crucible rookie David Gray, nicknamed after the children's cartoon character Casper The Friendly Ghost due to his pale complexion.
