This day four weeks will be final day of the World Snooker Championships.
It's one of the great sporting days but the tournament will also bring to a close the career of one of Ireland's best ever players.
Fergal O'Brien confirmed his retirement to RTÉ Sport at the end of last year and tomorrow he will begin his final attempt to win the biggest prize of them all.
It's a long road ahead - four qualifying matches before he can get his hand on the table at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield - but whether he gets there or not, O'Brien is satisfied that he's made the correct decision.
"If I was still in the top 16 and earning €200,000 a year there's no way I'd be stopping playing," he says.
"But if you look at the last five years, I fell off the Tour two years ago, and three years before that I had to win a match to stay on it.
"I'd have to win a few matches this year in the qualifiers to stay on the tour, which would have meant a return to Q School, which I certainly wouldn't have done.
"I gave myself two years since winning back my tour card at Q School and I said that something extraordinary would have to happen for me to stay on. Well, nothing extraordinary has happened!"
The highpoint of a 33-year career was his victory at the 1999 British Open, while perhaps the match he is most remembered for is the 2001 Masters final at the Wembley Conference Centre - a 10-9 defeat to the so-called 'Beckham of the Baize', the late Paul Hunter.
O'Brien admits that had he been forced to retire in the past it might have impacted his mental health, but he has begun to build a career off the table - coaching, while also doing media work with Eurosport - which has given him a much greater acceptance of the end of his career.
"There's a couple of friends of mine that had genuine fears for me," he acknowledges.
"I think they thought that if I had to retire that I'd end up in a dark place because the game means so much to me. There was probably some merit in that.
"But in the last couple of years the work with Eurosport and the coaching is something I'm really enjoying. I hope to be able to work with some more pros on the tour in the coming years.
"I've reached the stage where I want to be viewed as a great commentator rather than a great player," he adds with a laugh.
"Having said that, my mind is absolutely focused on this tournament coming up. Who knows when the journey will end? It'd be easy to get ahead of myself, get a bit distracted and maybe even emotional.
"I want to give myself the very best opportunity that I can and make the most of the opportunity."
And what a chance it is, to play for one final time at the mecca of snooker; Sheffield's Crucible Theatre.
While there has been much discussion about moving the game away from a venue that can only hold 980 spectators, O'Brien says it's the place that every player dreams of playing in.
"It's the biggest excitement for me playing," he says of the chance to appear at the venue one last time.
"I decided this season not to travel to any of the overseas tournaments, and even some of the other ones closer to home, that aren't as appealing.
"However the appeal of playing at the Crucible, in the World Championships, that hasn't diminished at all.
"I'm still genuinely excited about that. If you knew you were going to lose in the first round you'd still want to qualify, such is the buzz.
"That night you qualify, it's literally ecstasy."
If he wants to get there he has to beat Mostafa Dorgham across two sessions tomorrow, with 2006 world champion Graeme Dott, Jackson Page and Noppon Saengkham all to come after that.
"It's always going to be a tough challenge but it's doable," he says of his route.
"They're all very good players. I've played them all and beaten them all. There's no great edge to any of those matches, no back story.
"It'd be different if I was playing Ken (Doherty) or Jimmy (White) - that'd add a little something extra, but it's not the case.
"It's going to be really tough but if I go out and play well, I've every chance."
Fergal O'Brien speaks to RTÉ Sport's Dave Kelly as he prepares to retire from professional snooker #RTESport pic.twitter.com/WpZCkuAPvC
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 31, 2023
And whatever might happen over the next week, or even the next month, O'Brien says he's happy with where his game is at.
"I haven't had a tournament in a couple of months so I've had plenty of time to practice. I'm very happy with my preparation.
"Not having tournaments has meant I could focus more time on my game. If needs be, you're not trying to perfect everything at the same time because you've a tournament coming up.
"If I wanted I could play one shot over and over again for an hour, so to speak. I'm happy with my game. I had a couple of practice matches with Jordan Brown in Antrim to sharpen my game so I'm happy with my form.
"At any stage if I lose there won't be any complaints or excuses. I've prepared well so on that basis, if you're comfortable enough with your game, you're more likely to be looking forward to playing.
"I feel a lot calmer this time around. I'm much less tense and apprehensive, but just genuinely excited about it.
"There's a level of focus and application that I have to bring. If I'm too romantic or misty-eyed, I won't qualify. It's as simple as that.
"I have to have my business head on."
