The record books will show Liam Pullen and Stan Moody both lost on their Crucible debuts at the Halo World Championship.

But the Yorkshire duo – touted as two of Britain’s finest young snooker stars after playing in the 2023 World Junior Championship in Australia – have this week announced themselves on the biggest stage of all.

Quite literally, a stage, none bigger in snooker than the Crucible Theatre.

The World Championship is guaranteed to stay in Sheffield until 2045, and while there’s no guarantees in any sport, it’s a safe bet that Pullen, 20, and 19-year-old Moody will be back at the Crucible many times in the future.

York's Liam Pullen on his Crucible debut. Photo: Richard Sellers/PA Wire.

placeholder image — York's Liam Pullen on his Crucible debut. Photo: Richard Sellers/PA Wire.

Halifax’s Moody gave Masters champion Kyren Wilson a fright on Monday, leading 7-3 before slipping to a 10-7 first round defeat.

And when Pullen, from York, won the opening frame on Wednesday – after resuming overnight at 5-4 down to world No 13 Chris Wakelin – a potential upset was on the cards.

But Wakelin produced a series of 50-plus breaks to take control, meaning Pullen’s first century at the Crucible – a fine 121 break in frame 15 – was a mere consolation in a 10-6 defeat.

“I really enjoyed it, every moment,” said Pullen. “It was probably too little, too late.

Liam Pullen during his match against Chris Wakelin at the Halo World Snooker Championship. Photo: Richard Sellers/PA Wire.

“I got to 5-5 and then for whatever reason, the match just didn’t come to me.

“I had a good start and a good finish, but just in the middle part I will have a look back on it and see what happened.

“I felt at times that I held my own against him, it was just the way the match panned out. It was a tough game, I thought it was a very tight 10-6.

“I have bumped into him (Moody) a couple of times here, he has enjoyed it as well.

“It’s experience for us both I guess, but at the end of the day we wanted to win, we are not just here to take part. I loved it. You have got to have fun and I felt close to doing something, but I just didn’t quite click out there. I felt like I could have played well at any moment.

“I felt very comfortable. Obviously, some players come here and don’t feel comfortable at all – from what I have heard – but it’s good for me to cap off my season at the Crucible, and to do it so young.”

Pullen entered the arena, all smiles, and embracing the warm welcome from his Yorkshire crowd.

And he certainly showed few nerves, knocking in a superb long red to open his account with a break of 96.

It was enough to restore parity, 5-5, on the scoreboard.

The Yorkshireman was first in the balls in frame 11, but ran out of position, and Wakelin punished him with a break of 72.

Then in the next frame, a promising break stuttered after missing out, attempting a risky long-range swerve shot on the brown. Wakelin pounced with a 60 break to edge 7-5 ahead.

Wakelin reached the quarter-finals at the Crucible last year, and this season picked up his second ranking title when he beat Chang Bingyu in the Scottish Open final.

And the 34-year-old created a three-frame advantage, at 8-5, heading into the mid-session interval, after a score of 61.

When Wakelin clinched the next frame, victory was in sight, but Pullen made it 9-6 with his maiden century, a stylish clearance to the black, of 121.

Wakelin – who practises with Pullen – was not to be denied as he knocked in a 62 break to secure a 10-6 win.

“Obviously I was there to win but I am also gutted for Liam because he is a really good friend and an incredible player,” said Wakelin. “The first time I practised with him, he stuffed me.

“It's a shame he didn't show what he is capable of here. Without being condescending, I am proud that he made it here.”

Ronnie O’Sullivan set-up a second round clash with John Higgins, after beating China’s He Guoqiang 10-2.