Ken Doherty produced a typically business-like comeback to book his place in the quarter-finals of this year's SAGA Insurance Masters.
The popular Dubliner, twice a runner-up at the richest invitational event on the world circuit, came back from 2-0 down to defeat Beckenham's Barry Hawkins 6-3 at the Wembley Arena.
Following his battling victory, he will now play either two-time winner Ronnie O'Sullivan or Tiptree's Ali Carter on Thursday.
'It was a bit of a struggle in the beginning - but it was nice to finish the match off with a century break,' said Doherty, who will pocket a minimum of £16,000 in prize money for his progress through to the last-eight stage.
His impressive 127 clearance in the ninth frame secured victory, but the 1997 world champion admitted it had been a tough day at the office.
'It was hard, but you have to grind out frames when things aren't going so well,' he added.
'I thought it was going to be like the (BDO World Professional) Darts final the other night. I thought he was going to come back and beat me.' New world champion Martin Adams led that match 6-0, only for fellow finalist Phil Nixon to win six frames to level.
Although Hawkins' comeback was not quite as comprehensive as that, with his opponent reducing his arrears to 5-3, Doherty did hold his nerve under pressure to go through.
'I'm feeling okay,' added the Ranelagh star. 'I've not set the season on fire yet. It's only happened for me in fits and starts. But I've just got to keep practising hard and hope it clicks. Sometimes it happens like that in snooker - and I hope it happens for me this week.'
Hawkins compiled breaks of 54 and 36 to win the opening frame of the evening, before doubling his advantage with a cool 87.
But back came Doherty, winning five frames on the trot to leave Hawkins facing the exit door.
A 46 break was enough to edge a scrappy third frame, before breaks of 41 and 37 made sure of the fourth frame.
A 39 break and 22 run saw Doherty edge ahead for the first time in the match at 3-2, before he kept his composure to win a marathon sixth frame which lasted nearly 40 minutes. He pocketed a telling 43 run in that one.
The Irishman added a break of 54 to go 5-2 ahead, before last season's Grand Prix semi-finalist Hawkins edged the eighth frame - which lasted more than half-an-hour - with a pressure pots on pink and black.
Doherty had potted the final pink for victory but was cruelly denied victory as the white ball inexplicably found its way into a middle pocket for a foul - gifting Hawkins the chance to dish up.
However, it only delayed the inevitable as Doherty fired in a 127 break in the following frame to keep his title ambitions very much alive.
