Alan McManus ran riot over Louis Heathcote to secure a place in the Crucible Theatre for the first time since he last did in 2016. The evergreen pro led his opponent from start to finish. From the start of the game, one thing was clear, McManus would come out tops. The question was – by how many points?

The 1994 Masters champion started on the front foot, showing why his longevity is more suited to playing longer matches. He knocked Heathcote for six, clinching a spot in the Crucible Theatre. Heathcote, world number 87, maybe several spots below the elites, but he is no newbie. He was in the right shape and on a good run of form coming into this game, having shown Ali Carter the exit door with a 6-3 win over the two-time world finalist.

McManus took the game by the scruff of its neck, reeling top breaks of 52 and closing in with 96. He had his eyes on the prize – making it to the Crucible Theatre – and deployed all his trademark skills to make sure of that.

The 49-year-old will etch his name in the record books for being the oldest man to appear at the Crucible since Steve Davis, who was 52 at the time, had a rub to the quarter-finals.

Four years ago, McManus edged past fellow scots John Higgins and Stephen Maguire on the way to the semis. He then lost to Ding Junhui by a 17-11 scoreline.

The 49-year-old also had good runs to the semis in 1992 and 1993. Between 1990 and 2006, McManus enjoyed a good run, staying inside the game’s top 16 for all 16 years.

He will be joined in the dray by another 49-year-old, Anthony Hamilton, who defeated Scott Donaldson by the same scoreline. Call it a frantic day on the table, and you won’t be so afar off the truth.

After ten frames, both Hamilton and Donaldson were tied on 5-5. But after then, Hamilton tore away from the draw and raced to the finish, defeating his opponent by a 10-5 scoreline.

Written by: Roland Arum