Abstract: An easy opening end closure for a container has a central panel with a tear panel defined by a score line. A pull tab is attached by a rivet to the central panel and has a nose end for engaging the tear panel and an opposite lift end for pivoting the tab about the rivet to fracture the score line. One or a pair of crescent-shaped protrusions are formed on the central panel closely adjacent to and rearwardly of the rivet to reduce the lift force required to initially lift the lift end of the tab to start the fracturing of the score line. The protrusions are concentric to each other and partially circumscribe the rivet and are located beneath the pull tab or within openings of the pull tab to avoid interference with can making equipment and with the pull tab. The protrusions provide greater flexibility to the area of the central panel adjacent the rivet to enable the rivet to pull slightly upwards from the panel at the start lifting the lift end of the tab.