Martin Adams was seen off by a quality display from Jarred Cole on his return to the Lakeside stage with a 26th time potentially being his final WDF World Championship bow.
"It always feels great to come here and play. I mean I'm looking forward to the World Seniors Masters that's going to be here so playing at the Lakeside is something when you're younger you want to do. I've done it 26 times on this stage so happy days," he said to Online Darts.
He gave his opinion on whether his opponent Jarred Cole can go all the way and what he believes he needs to sharpen up on.
"I thought Jarred's a good young player, he's a nice lad, he's got a good temperament. He's not lairy, feet on the ground and gets on with his game. I know he's got a lot more to offer in his game, he needs to sharpen up a little bit on some of his double shots but he's doing well.
"He's only a young man. There's no point starting off with your best game on Day One, you want to get through now the second round, now you want to move, now you want to improve."
But for Adams, he admits the travelling around Europe means that he likely won't go chasing and so it could be the final time he plays at Lakeside albeit with involvement in next month's World Seniors.
"We'll see, you ask yourself the question do I want to continue travelling around Europe bits of Scandinavia and Europe for two events a year, do I want to do that I don't know at the moment and the probable answer is no."