India's snooker duo, Aditya Mehta and Pankaj Advani, have admitted they will suffer from nerves when they play in front of their own fans at the World Snooker Indian Open beginning here next week.
The October 14-18 event will be the first world ranking tournament ever staged in India, and the country's two leading professional players will face a weight of expectation.
"I will be nervous and the first frame will be important because I will need to settle into the match quickly, especially as it's only best of seven," said Mehta, who faces Peter Ebdon in his first match.
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"Peter is a former world champion and he will be a very tough opponent. I won't feel pressure from the crowd because the only expectation comes from myself. It's an important tournament for me and I know I'm capable of winning matches.
"It will be the first time my parents have watched me play a professional match so it will be a special occasion for all of us," he said.
Advani agreed with his close friend that playing in the Indian Open for the first time will rank among his career highlights.
"It's extremely exciting. I will have a lot of friends and well-wishers there so I will have a few butterflies, but I have been playing professional snooker for over a year now so I know how to keep myself calm," said Advani.
"I have experience of playing in big matches having competed in several World Billiards finals. But this will be a different and unique occasion."
Advani will be up against Scotland's Marcus Campbell in his opening match and said: "I have never played Marcus before but I know what a seasoned professional he is. We are both tactical players so I'm sure it will be a really good battle."
"I have been happy about my game this season and I have been winning matches so I am going to Delhi with confidence.
