Willie O'Connor caused an upset as he dumped out one of the pre-tournament favourites Rob Cross in the first round of the Winmau World Masters.
Cross entered the tournament in red-hot form after winning his fifth World Series title last week by claiming the Dutch Masters.
All was going to plan as the world number four won the first set 2-0, and it got even better when the Irishman lost his throw in the first leg of the second set, but he broke back and won the set and the following two as well for a 3-1 win - landing a monster 151 finish to knock out the former world champion.
There was also a 3-1 win for Antrim’s Josh Rock who was too strong for Jermaine Wattimena.
Rock - who got married earlier in the week - won the opening set before he was pegged back by the Dutchman, but he recovered to advance to the last 16.
His reward is a clash with world number one Luke Humphries in the second round on Saturday.
O’Connor, meanwhile, faces Danny Noppert, also on Saturday.
Defending champion Stephen Bunting survived a scare to battle past qualifier William Borland in a final-leg decider and book his place in the last 16 of the Winmau World Masters.
Former world champion Michael Smith lost 3-1 to Dutchman Danny Noppert and afterwards revealed he is suffering from arthritis in his right hand.
Smith's form has dropped off rapidly since winning the world title in 2023. The 34-year-old, who has also been playing with a shoulder injury, says he has made it public to stop speculation about his performances, having been left out of the Premier League and World Series line-ups this year.
"Feel like this needed to be said as I'm annoyed seeing (people saying) I'm finished or what's happening, it's this or that," he posted on X.
"The last six weeks I've had a grade 2 AC shoulder injury and seeking physio every 2/3 days to help that but for 3/4 years I've been fighting something else.
"I broke both my wrists when I was 19 and now it's catching up with me and now suffering with arthritis to my right hand.
"This isn't sympathy or a cry for help. This is letting you all in to it.
"I see the specialist Monday and when I know you will know what will happen over the next month or so.
"I'll never let anything beat me and I promise I'll be back very, VERY quickly."
Additional reporting: PA
