Yorkshire duo Liam Cullen and Peter Lines attempting to book their spot at Crucible main event

The duo both came through their opening qualifying rounds at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, needing to win four matches to clinch a place at the Crucible.

The wins though were slightly different. While 56-year-old Lines cruised to a 10-2 win over Brazil’s Jonas Luz, Pullen, 20, needed to win a finale-frame decider to edge out Alfie Burden.

Pullen – the York cueman who reached his first ranking quarter-final at this season’s Xi’an Grand Prix – plays Iran’s Amir Sarkhosh today.

Pullen said: "I just felt the whole match was a mental challenge. He started off like a train.”

Having trailed 5-1 early in the match, Pullen rallied to 9-9 before getting over the line in a deciding frame.

“I've just said to myself to keep going,” he said. “I'm quite proud of myself. There is a lot up for grabs. I might end up looking back at that match and it might have changed my trajectory.

“It is one match at a time, but if your target isn't getting to the Crucible it is pointless playing."

Leeds veteran Lines was the first winner to emerge from the first round, after sweeping aside Luz 10-2.

He opened with breaks of 66 and 97, before going on to knock in 51, 106, 60 and 76 and his reward is a second-round meeting with Scott Donaldson today.

Tomorrow, sees Peter’s son Oliver Lines in second-round action, before Halifax’s Stan Moody joins qualifying in the third round.

Last night, Leeds’ David Grace finished his first-round match with York’s Ashley Hugill – who was 78-1 ahead after the first session – while Sanderson Lam resumes today against Polish teenager Michal Szubarczyk.

Rotherham's Ashley Carty plays China's Jiang Jun this morning in the second round.

Elsewhere yesterday, Jamie Clarke edged 5-4 ahead in his clash with Haydon Pinhey. Mark Lloyd, meanwhile, dominated the first session of his match with Liu Wenwei, racing into a 6-1 lead.