The resurgence of Martin Gould has been one of the highlights of the season, for all it won't make the headlines in the same way Judd Trump, Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins have.
Still, having finished runner-up at the European Masters early in the campaign, Gould has been largely consistent since and didn't play badly when losing to Jack Lisowski in the Players Championship last week.
Tuesday at the Gibraltar Open is all about Stephen Hendry, and his return to professional snooker is sure to attract plenty of interest to an event that may have otherwise slipped under the radar following the Welsh Open and Players Championship in recent weeks.
It will be fascinating to see Hendry back in action, for all nobody underestimates what a tough challenge he has set himself having last been seen on the professional tour when originally retiring back in 2012.
He won't expect to find Matthew Selt in charitable mood, for all the pair are close friends away from the table, but Selt has rarely been at his best in front of the TV cameras in the past and there is no doubt he will be under as much pressure as Hendry himself, possibly even more.
I won't be betting on this one but it would be nice to think Hendry can show up well and light the fire inside him once again. Who knows where exactly this latest journey will end for the seven-time world champion, but one last appearance at the Crucible really would be something wouldn't it?
Earlier on Tuesday, I think GAO YANG represents decent value at 11/4 when he takes on Stuart Carrington in the first round.
Yang is the latest in a long line of Chinese youngsters to promise great things and though still only 16 years of age, he has already belied his inexperience to beat the likes of Duane Jones and Jianbo Zhao this season, while he pushed Michael Holt close when losing 6-4 when they met at the UK Championship.
Furthermore, Scott Donaldson had to play really well when beating Yang 4-2 at the Welsh Open recently - knocking in two centuries - as he came from 2-1 down to win.
Yang looks a classy operator in the making and while he evidently has plenty to learn, he faces an opponent on Tuesday in Carrington who hasn't been pulling up any trees of late and one who doesn't appear to be on the upgrade.
Carrington rightly heads the betting but he's awfully short and Yang should cause him more than enough problems to outrun his odds of 11/4. Betting Yang on the handicap was considered, but I'll chance my arm to smaller stakes.
Preview posted at 1630 GMT 01/03/12
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