Ronnie O'Sullivan narrowly avoided a second major upset in the space of a fortnight as he beat Akani Songsermsawad 6-5 to reach the quarter-finals of the UK Championship.
Having lost to Elliot Slessor at the Northern Ireland Open in one of the upsets of the season, O'Sullivan had to pull out all the stops to overcome the challenge of Songsermsawad, a 22-year-old whose future appears bright on this showing.
Five-time champion O'Sullivan trailed 2-0 and 4-2, levelling up the score on both occasions before his Thai opponent produced a wonderful 128 break to move within one of the last eight.
O'Sullivan, however, edged a tense 10th frame before taking the decider to remain on course for a record-equalling sixth title. He's Sky Bet's 8/13 favourite.
Next up is a clash with Martin Gould, who got the better of Xiao Guodong 6-4.
Gould took the opener courtesy of an 82 break and edged the fifth by a single point, 63-62, despite a break of 62 from Xiao.
The Chinese was soon level again and moved ahead for the first time as he took frame seven to lead 4-3, only for Gould to reel off three in succession to advance.
Former world champion Shaun Murphy raced into the quarter-finals as he dispatched Ricky Walden 6-1.
Murphy won a tight opener thanks largely to a break of 51, while a 55 in frame two saw him move 2-0 ahead.
He then produced the game's sole century as a 114 break extended the lead and while a break of 80 saw Walden take the fourth frame, from there it was Murphy who dominated again as he set up a clash with Mark King.
Also on Thursday, Mark Joyce beat Lyu Haotian 6-4 thanks to five half-century breaks. He's through to face Ryan Day in a bid for redemption of sorts, having lost to Day's compatriot Mark Williams on the only other occasion he made it this far in the event.
Afternoon session
Shaun Murphy 6-1 Ricky Walden (Match 115)
Martin Gould 6-4 Xiao Guodong (Match 120)
Evening session
Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-5 Akani Songsermsawad (Match 119)
Mark Joyce 6-4 Lyu Haotian (Match 114)
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