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Huge crowds flooded in to attend a Green Carpet event outside the Crucible Theatre as Sheffield celebrated nearly half a century of hosting the Snooker World Championship.
Fans took full advantage of a fantastic opportunity to meet their heroes as 14 of the most talented snooker stars on the planet took the time to pose for photos and sign autographs for those in attendance, in a day which epitomised just how much the sport means to the Steel City.
It was the first Green Carpet event to take place since last month’s announcement that the Crucible would be remaining the home of snooker until at least 2045
It’s understood that £45m will be invested to improve the Crucible in the years to come, as part of ambitious plans to raise the venue’s overall size by 50 percent - taking the capacity to 1,500 by 2030.
Most of Snooker’s top ranked players posed for a group photo ahead of the prestigious annual tournament, while Wu Yize and Xiao Guodong also took time to play frames against fans on snooker tables in the Fanzone area, outside the Crucible after the group photo.
Here are some of the best photographs from the event as excitement continues to build for this year’s World Snooker Championship.
5. Chris Wakelin takes a selfie with a fan
Chris Wakelin, who reached last year's quarter-final, poses for a photo with a fan. | Getty Images
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6. Zhao Xintong arrives
Defending champion Zhao Xintong received huge cheers from the crowd. He'll be looking to break the Crucible curse in this year's tournament. | Iconic Media
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7. Xiao Guodong writes his signature
Xiao Guodong takes on fellow countrymen Zhou Yuelong in all-Chinese first round clash. | Iconic Media
8. Ken Doherty pays tribute to former snooker player and commentator, John Virgo
Ken Doherty and MC Rob Walker during the Halo World Snooker Championship media day, shared their memories of the legend of the sport John Virgo. | Getty Images