Duncan Scott took revenge on Tom Dean for his Olympic heartbreak by winning the Duel in the Pool at the Commonwealth Games.
The Scot had lost out to the Englishman in the final of the 200 metres freestyle in Tokyo by an agonising 0.04 seconds.
But on a raucous evening in the West Midlands he got his own back, coming from behind to beat his close friend into second place.
Ben Proud got England off to a flying start as he took gold in the 50m butterfly in a Games record 22.81secs.
And superstar Adam Peaty qualified fastest for today’s 100m breaststroke final just 10 weeks after breaking his foot.
But the race they packed the Sandwell Aquatics Centre to see was the “blue riband” 200m and it was Scott who edged a thriller.
“I can’t seem to get away from him, every time I race he’s there,” said Dean, who lost out by 0.39secs. “He’s annoying sometimes! We’re going to keep doing this, again and again. It’s only good for British swimming.”
This was a clash which injected genuine quality into a Games struggling a little for credibility after a number of early gaffes.
It is not a good look when a ‘bronze medal race’ is won at the velodrome and the winners are told there is no medal - then get fined for borrowing a couple for a podium photo.
Nor when the leader of the men’s marathon gets lost after going the wrong way in Birmingham city centre and has to retrace his footsteps.
Add in reports of official buses getting lost and the reputation of the Games was bruised before Dean and Scott took the plunge.
Dean, who last summer became the first British male since 1908 to win two gold medals at a single Olympics, got out fastest, leading to the halfway mark.
But Scott, who has barely raced since contracting Covid in April, somehow found the strength to overhaul him in the final 60m - then return half an hour later to win 400m medley bronze.
Thrilling as that was, it was Proud's “redemption” story which most tugged at the heartstrings.
The world champion had been controversially disqualified for moving early on the blocks in the same final four years ago and it left an almighty scar.
“I felt it was taken from me,” he admitted. “I said I would be here four years later and it has happened.
“This is my redemption. I don’t want to be emotional but it has been a tough one. My family have been through a lot as well.
"This is more than just another win, it is what I dedicate my life to. It is my career. It is my legacy. It is special.”
England claimed five other silver medals through Imogen Clark (50m breaststroke), Paul Williams (100m backstroke). Hannah Russell (S13 50m free), the two 4 x 1 relays.
But the night belonged to Scott the Scot.
