John Higgins would love to land a fifth Crucible title and vowed "the fire is still there" after making an eye-catching start at the Betfred World Championship in Sheffield.
The way the 39-year-old Scot breezed past Robert Milkins augured well for his prospects, although a challenging draw means he may have to beat Ding Junhui, Judd Trump and Ronnie O'Sullivan successively to reach another final.
Higgins won his opening match 10-5 and looks to be approaching the form that saw him last take the title four years ago.
He plundered breaks of 77, 75, 69 and a clinching 106 in the second session, which was swiftly over without a hint of a Milkins fightback.
Winning the Welsh Open in February has restored self-belief for Higgins, who feared his days as a competitor at the sharp end of major tournaments were over.
Asked directly whether he was a potential champion, Higgins initially said: "Nah. There's more and more contenders out there. I probably know what it takes to win it but there's more favoured players than me."
But unmistakably he does have one eye on the trophy, and he added: "It would be amazing if I could win it and go level with somebody like Ronnie O'Sullivan on five titles. That would be beyond my wildest dreams. The fire is still there.
"I've had a few sleepless nights thinking I'd never get back into the winner's circle. Luckily it happened at the Welsh Open and that's given me a bit of a boost.
"You doubt yourself definitely, especially in dark times, but now hopefully there's some good times.
"Just to win this again would be incredible. Ronnie has probably outstripped me, winning more tournaments and making more century breaks, and he's obviously chasing Stephen Hendry's records.
"But there's perhaps Hendry, Ronnie and (Steve) Davis before me winning most. If it's just those three ahead of me I can't complain. It's not a bad three to have in front of you."
Milkins said of his conqueror: "It's going to take a good man to beat him on that form. He's playing really good stuff."
Scotland enjoyed a fine day, with Graeme Dott, unseeded this year but a proven Crucible class act and champion in 2006, a 10-8 winner as he ousted Ricky Walden.
Dott has endured an unsatisfying season to date, but puts that partly down to tour matches becoming ever shorter.
The best-of-seven-frame tussles that are increasingly commonplace simply do not suit Dott, but the marathon of the Crucible plays to his strengths.
"It's got to suit me," Dott said.
"If you compare it to horse racing, I'm a Grand National horse but all I'm ever running is seven furlongs, it's just not long enough."
"I was very confident before the match. I thought I was going to win." - Anthony McGill, conqueror of Stephen Maguire
In the 12th frame, Walden fired in 13 reds and 13 blacks but missed the next red, an awkward shot to the green pocket, ending hopes of a 147 maximum break that would have brought him a £30,000 bonus.
Australian Neil Robertson, the 2010 world champion, fired breaks of 143, 109 and 94 in establishing a 7-2 lead over Welshman Jamie Jones, and Barry Hawkins was ahead by the same margin against Matt Selt in an all-English clash.
Those matches conclude on Monday, when Ding and Ali Carter are among those getting their campaigns under way.
Hong Kong's Marco Fu booked his place in the second round by fending off Jimmy Robertson 10-6.
Scottish players have won 12 of the last 25 World Championship titles, with seven going to Hendry, four to Higgins and one to Dott.
Anthony McGill, 24, is the country's newest cue star and he showed his immense quality in beating compatriot Stephen Maguire 10-9, setting up a second-round shot at defending champion Mark Selby.
Maguire reined in McGill from 9-5 in front, with breaks of 51, 81 and 56 helping to force a deciding frame.
But on his debut, McGill ploughed in an astounding break of 122 in the final frame to get over the line.
Maguire offered warm congratulations, as qualifier McGill's beaming smile told its own story.
Maguire said: "I didn't get a chance in the decider. He made a great break.
"He was trying to fall over the line before that so I made it as hard as possible.
"He took a good red on that he probably wouldn't have taken on at 9-7, 9-8 and you saw what he did.
"At the end I just said, 'Good luck, don't freeze against Mark Selby', because he beat John Higgins at the UK Championship and froze against Ronnie when he should have beaten Ronnie.
"I do think he'll play better in his next match.
"He's won his first match at the Crucible. I think he'll put up a good fight at least against Selby."
McGill revealed: "I'm feeling relief and joy.
"I'm delighted to win on my debut at the Crucible. I'm over the moon really, aye."
He and Maguire have practised together back in their home city, and McGill said: "I was very confident before the match. I thought I was going to win.
"It's one of the better draws I could have got because of the familiarity.
"I felt like I wasn't at the Crucible but like I was at home having a game at the club."
