Luke Humphries overcame injury problems to produce a stunning display in a 10-3 win over Jurjen van der Velde at the Grand Slam of Darts.
The world number one averaged a mammoth 108.55 to reach the quarter-finals in Wolverhampton.
But the 2023 champion revealed he nearly had to pull out of the tournament earlier on Wednesday.
"When I woke up this morning for 15 minutes I couldn't pick my head up from the pillow," he explained to Sky Sports after his victory.
"I think I got a back spasm and I was thinking maybe I’d have to pull out today, it was really that bad. My back was so bad and my shoulder, whatever it is.
"I’ve got to thank Mandy, my physio who’s been on it for three hours looking after me, massaging it to try and get it in the best state it physically could be.
"I think the adrenaline just got me over the line. I guess I’m just a fighter and surprise myself sometimes.
"From almost having to pull out this morning to playing like that is something special."
Humphries raced into a 7-0 lead before Van der Velde finally got on the scoreboard by winning the eighth leg, which he marked by raising both his arms in mock celebration and hyping up the crowd.
The 22-year-old Dutchman was celebrating again in the 12th leg when he hit a 164 checkout, but he was no match for Humphries in this form.
Three-time champion Gerwyn Price also reached the next round with a 10-6 victory over Martin Schindler.
The Welshman took a commanding 5-1 lead, but Schindler managed to close the gap to 6-4 before Price recovered and finished with an 11-dart leg to set up a quarter-final meeting against Ricky Evans.
Evans pulled off a fantastic comeback in his 10-9 win against Luke Woodhouse to reach the final eight of the competition for the first time.
Woodhouse took an 8-5 lead but Evans forced a deciding leg and he hit a checkout of 76 to secure his spot in the next round.
