Defending champion Ken Doherty battled into the quarter-finals of the Malta Cup tonight then declared: 'I'm not going to let the title go easily.'
Determined Doherty remained on course to retain a world ranking trophy for the first time in his career with an unexpectedly hard fought 5-2 victory over little known Widnes pro Andrew Higginson.
'I've always built myself up to try and win every tournament but there are certain venues and places where you feel more relaxed and this is one,' said Doherty, winner of the Rothmans Malta Grand Prix in 1997 and 2000.
Doherty was short odds to progress at the expense of Higginson, who before arriving on the Mediterranean island had never before advanced further than the last 48 of a major competition.
Higginson was also making his debut in front of the television cameras but showed no signs of nerves as he controlled the first frame before stealing the second on the black with a well-crafted 38 clearance.
'It was a bit of a scare. I certainly don't do things the easy way,' said Doherty, surprised by the manner in which his inexperienced opponent handled the pressure.
'Considering that he's never been on telly before he started off very composed and confident but luckily my focus and concentration clicked in.'
The turning point came in the third frame. In among the balls, Higginson missed a mid-range blue and Doherty responded with an 89 clearance.
With that the Dubliner, who will climb back to number one in the provisional world rankings should he lift the trophy, was off and running.
Higginson scored only 17 points in the following three frames as Doherty seized command with breaks of 87, 36 and 86.
The seventh frame was much tighter but Doherty slammed in a long pink and added the black to complete his five frames winning streak.
Doherty goes through to play Peter Ebdon, winner of the UK Championship in December, who beat Stephen Maguire 5-2.
Ebdon produced breaks of 96, 59 and a decisive 89 clearance, while also getting under Maguire's skin by adopting his usual methodical, measured approach.
Maguire, who conceded the sixth frame trailing only 34-6 with nine reds still on the table, admitted he had fallen victim to frustration.
'He made me lose the will to live. Peter did his job well. I couldn't handle it out there,' said Maguire, winner of the 2004 European Open and UK Championship but nothing since.
'It feels as if you've been playing for three days. I don't know how to combat him.'
Stephen Hendry made the last eight of this year's event with a 5-0 whitewash of Australia's Neil Robertson.
Welshman Ryan Day, the first round conqueror of Matthew Stevens, equalled his personal best run in a ranking event by edging former British Open champion Fergal O'Brien.
Day led 4-2, O'Brien rallied to 4-4 with breaks of 65 and 101 but missed a tricky red to a middle pocket early in the decider and world number 17 Day stepped in with a match-clinching contribution of 55.
