The World Seniors Championship takes place over the next few days at The Baths Hall in Scunthorpe.
The revamped competition sees 12 players gunning for the title with the event now only open to players over the age of 40 who are not currently competing on the professional Main Tour.
Eight household names who entertained millions throughout their respective careers have been seeded through to the latter stages of proceedings.
This includes seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry, who as the number one seed will be one of the favourites to pocket the £10,000 top prize come Friday evening.
The Scot previously competed in the 2013 edition when he reached the semi-finals, and the 48 year-old will enter the fray this time around at the last eight stage.
As former world and major winning champions, Cliff Thorburn, John Parrott, and Dennis Taylor have also been given a bye into the quarter-finals.
Before that, the remaining seeds must face the four qualifiers who emerged from various preliminary tournaments staged in the UK, Ireland, and Germany over the last month or so.
Former major quarter-finalists Peter Lines and Patrick Wallace were notable names to have qualified.
Lines, who has been touted as the favourite for glory with many bookmakers, faces Irishman Patsy Fagan while Wallace plays 1986 world champion Joe Johnson – who put a significant amount of effort into the initial revival of the World Seniors in 2010.
The remaining pair of first round fixtures sees Tony Knowles entertain Jonathan Bagley while Willie Thorne faces Aiden Owens.
An added incentive for success is the prospect for the winner of an invitation into the World Championship qualifiers at Ponds Forge, where three further victories would provide an unlikely appearance at the Crucible in Sheffield for the sport’s blue riband tournament.
The format up until the final will be the best of five frames, before Friday’s showdown for the title takes place over seven frames.
However, if the frames are tied following four or six frames respectively, the outcome is decided by a re-spotted black.
A lot of effort has gone into promoting this event by Jason Francis of Snooker Legends and, if the success of his exhibition circuit is anything to go by, this week’s competitive trip down memory lane will be just as entertaining.
I surely give a tip of my hat to the organizers for such a phenomenal event. Wonder if there is a chance in the future to have a qualifying event in Canada or the U.S.A.? There is nothing like a tournament for a young man, or one who has lived long. I wish you continuing success.