Ken Doherty will find out on Thursday who he will face in the first round of the Betfred.com World Championship next month after booking his place in the season's highlight.
The 1997 world champion was aiming to qualify for the Crucible for the first time in two years and after taking a 8-1 lead over Northern Ireland's Joe Swail in the first session, he quickly wrapped up the victory.
He joins Steve Davis in the draw for the televised stages and the Dubliner is relishing the prospect of returning to the venue after missing out last year.
"I missed it terribly. I was in tears almost last year when I lost. I didn't know where my game was going and it was a real down time for me," he said.
"I always thought it was a premature end, it couldn't be like that and I had a lot more to offer.
"You look at Steve Davis and the way he played and he's five or six years older than Jimmy White and John Parrott. You could take a lot of leaves out of Steve Davis' book.
"I take a lot of inspiration from the likes of Steve and Jimmy. They're great characters, they've been great players and ambassadors and have a great determination and grit - and that was obvious the way Steve qualified and how Jimmy keeps coming back for more."
Parrott has hinted he may retire from the sport after failing to qualify for the World Championships but Doherty hopes the former winner will have a re-think.
"John Parrott is a true champion and I hope he reconsiders retirement because I think he still has a lot to offer the game," Doherty added.
"Jimmy is the same as well. He says he's going to give it one more year but I think there's plenty of life."