Paul Hunter played through the pain barrier to finally record his first victory of 2005 at the Failte Ireland Irish Masters today.
The world number four defeated Malta's Tony Drago 5-3 at the Citywest Hotel to end a seven-match losing run which began last November.
But the three-time Wembley Masters champion was almost forced to pull out of the event, having developed mystery stomach pains a fortnight ago.
"I'm in constant pain down my right-hand side, and it makes it hard to bend over and play," said Hunter, whose preparation for the 2002 Embassy World Championship was hampered by an operation to remove cysts from his scrotum.
"I thought I might have appendicitis and went to the doctors, but they don't know what's wrong with me. They asked if I've ever had an operation on my kidneys, because they couldn't find one of them. The doctor told me to come and play, and if the pain was still there to go back and they would perform keyhole surgery."
Home favourite Ken Doherty also warmed up for this tournament with a visit to hospital - but he too reached the second round with a 5-3 defeat of Norwich professional Barry Pinches.
An infection picked up at the Masters last month led to Doherty suffering from a burst eardrum, but the Dubliner showed no ill-effects as he produced a battling performance in front of his home fans.
"I feel better, and it's nice to win here because this tournament is second only to the world championship for me," said Doherty, who compiled breaks of 50, 63, 56, 67 and 56.
Meanwhile, adopted Irishman Jimmy White produced a solid performance to reach the second round tonight.
Londoner White spends nearly half the year in Ireland and is having a house built in Kilcock, County Kildare.
The 'home' advantage seemed to tell as he weighed in with breaks of 65, 53 and 71 on the way to beating Leicester's Mark Selby 5-1.
"I guess I'm a bit of a `plastic Paddy' these days," said White, the Irish Masters champion in 1985 and 1986.
"The Guinness is no good in London so I had to come here. I play a lot of exhibitions and my management company is based here, so it's a good place for me."
Another veteran campaigner, 47-year-old Steve Davis, advanced to the last 16 with a 5-2 defeat of namesake Mark Davis.
Eight times a winner of the Irish title, Davis made breaks of 84 and 66 to move from 2-1 to 4-1 ahead after which the result was never in doubt.
Davis will face old foe Stephen Hendry for a quarter-final place if the Scot beats Robin Hull.
