Former world champion Ken Doherty and Australian ace Neil Robertson both booked their places in the last 16 of the Royal London Watches Grand Prix tonight.
Melbourne potter Robertson topped the pair's group with a comfortable 3-0 over Yorkshire's Paul Davison, his fourth win from five matches at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, while Doherty claimed second place with a 3-0 whitewash over Belfast's Joe Swail.
Robertson was in sparkling form with breaks of 82, 57 and 73, with Doherty starring with a superb century break, which he followed with runs of 82 and 67 to sink Swail.
Victory for both players helped them join the list of three other players through to the knockout stage, with defending champion John Higgins, last year's runner-up Ronnie O'Sullivan and Preston's Ian McCulloch all through to the next stage.
'Without a doubt that's the best I've played all tournament. I had the perfect start - and you need that in these short matches,' said Doherty, last season's Malta Cup winner.
'I've played five matches already, but it feels like I've played two matches at the World Championship. It's such a short sprint. Over the best-of-five frames you don't get too many chances and I've been twitching all week.
'It's very difficult to play these short matches. It's been really tough, but I'm just delighted to be in the next round. It was win or bust. I feel sorry for Joe because he's a good friend of mine, but that's the nature of the beast.
Jamie Cope had plenty to savour with a maximum 147 break in his 3-1 win over Nottingham's Michael Holt.
Both players can still qualify for the next stage, but it was the 'Shotgun' Cope who sparkled with his impressive clearance which should pocket the Longton cueman £24,000 in prize money.
'It's not sunk in yet,' said qualifier Cope. 'That was brilliant! I was on 60 and had a difficult red, went for it and the cue back fell nicely on the black ball.
'I was on a 147 break in China (at the China Open) and on 112 I didn't clear up. It's such a special feeling. It's got to be the best moment of my career. I was so glad to see the (final) black going in.'
