And Jamie Jones can't either.

The Welshman is the one that ends up coughing up four points but he'll possibly hope that may have just jolted John Higgins out of his early rhythm.

I can't think of too many players after John that'd be more difficult to get two snookers from.

This really is superb stuff from John Higgins with the black and pink pretty much out of commission.

He swings the white round the angles to get on the penultimate red...this is frame ball butt he's tucked up close to the cushion and sees it wobble in the jaws of the left corner.

Jamie Jones gets a brief reprieve but can't clip a thin cut into the same corner and he's left it.

That should be that for another frame. World number 41 Jones is going to carry on. He needs two four-point snookers to tie.

According to Tom, he's the unluckiest man in the world.

He bought a £10 ticket in a draw and won a £90,000 Range Rover and he had the cheek to moan about the colour.

Errors abounded as the first frame took half an hour on table two.

Just as one player looked in, they faltered. So much for sexy snooker.

Fair play to Tom Ford though - he hung in there, knocked in a long blue and slotted in a tricky pink and black to take the first frame.

I would love to see John Higgins at his best and have another real tilt at this title. There have been times this season where he has been playing phenomenal stuff but he is not picking up trophies which he is all about and which he has done all his career.

John Higgins looking razor sharp here. He puts himself in trouble off a green early in this break but then brilliantly thunders in a red off the cushion to get back on track.

Jamie Jones has knocked in a few decent balls already in this frame but is only on 12 and he overcooks his approach for a red down near the bottom rail and can't cut it in.

John Higgins could have an opportunity to really start to pull clear here.

He has a look of frustration in his chair John Higgins.

Jamie Jones breaks but it knocks four or five reds loose and John Higgins pounces, knocking one into the bottom right corner.

But he then plays a poor shot on the green and snookers himself with the blue blocking his path to the next pot.

Great play from John Higgins. His break comes to an end but he puts Jamie Jones in all sorts of bother, snookering him on the final red.

The Welshman manages to get to the red but leaves it over the middle for the Scot, who mops up the frame.

Image source, PA Media

It is an important visit to the table for John because he will want to stamp his authority on this second session and put Jamie under pressure.

What a shot that is from John Higgins. The Scot back on the table goes round the houses from the yellow and scatters a cluster of reds near the pink spot to leave himself plum in.

Jamie Jones looks like he means business but a can't sink a mid-range red with the rest and John Higgins gets an easy starter to the top right corner.

That's poor from the Scot though, who runs out of position and screws the white back into the middle bag. Break over on 12.

Jamie Jones does not look overawed by his opponent.

What a pot that is from Jamie Jones. Tucked up on the top cushion he rolls in a long red dead weight.

Image source, Michael Emons

These three are among a group of six friends who have made their annual trip over from Dublin to Sheffield to enjoy the snooker.

Jimmy Harlow said: 'We're Crucible super fans, we wouldn't go anywhere else to watch snooker - this is the creme de la creme.

"This is the best venue going, the atmosphere around the place is so good - you have to see it to believe it."

Graham McHugh added: "It's a brilliant venue and tv does not do it justice. We all play snooker and love our snooker. If they move it to Saudi Arabia we won't be going."

The group have a busy few days as they have already watched Robert Milkins versus David Gilbert earlier today, are in the arena for John Higgins versus Jamie Jones tonight, back here tomorrow morning for more Milkins v Gilbert and then Shaun Murphy versus Stephen Maguire on Friday afternoon.

John Higgins is having a little natter with Tom Ford before he comes out.

All very friendly stuff giving he is not playing the Englishman. The Wizard of Wishaw is looking to reach the second round for the 26th time here and steps out to 'The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)'.

Will this match against Jamie Jones go the distance tonight though?

Judd talks himself up, he's not shy. He's a great entertainer, but he'd like to get that extra world trophy in the cabinet so there is extra pressure on him.

Will anyone be able to stop Ronnie O'Sullivan from winning an eighth world title?

I'd imagine this man will want to be in the frame...

Image source, Getty Images