Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins remain locked at 4-4 after the first session of their quarter-final clash at the 888.com World Championship in Sheffield.
'The Rocket', a two-time winner of the Crucible crown, found himself 3-1 down to Higgins after the Scot got off to a flying start.
A break of 91 in the first frame gave the 1998 world champion an early advantage, before this season's Masters champion O'Sullivan won the next with a break of 89.
But Higgins then won the next two frames, the highlight of which was a run of 73 in the fourth frame.
The two tournament favourites resumed in fine fettle after their mid-session cup of tea, particularly O'Sullivan, who hit back in quick time to level matters.
Breaks of 54 and 65 were enough for the fifth frame, before a run of 60 in the next left the match finely poised at 3-3.
Higgins moved up a gear and sunk a match-high break of 110, but Chigwell potter O'Sullivan made sure honours were shared as he took the last frame of the session with a 76 break.
The pair resume to conclude their match tomorrow, with the winner set to play either Nottingham's Anthony Hamilton or Glasgow's Stephen Maguire.
They will play a morning session of a maximum of eight frames, with the conclusion of the match due to take place in the evening session.
Leicester potter Mark Selby has taken a 5-3 lead over Ali Carter.
Selby won a scrappy opener for an early lead, only for trainee pilot Carter to hit back with a 44 break to level matters.
The defending world eight-ball pool champion, Selby won the next frame with a 59 break and was well placed to win the next.
However, the world number 28 broke down on a break of 56 and Carter cleared up with a 69 to draw all square for a second time.
Selby won the next with runs of 38 and 41, but Carter stuck close to make it 3-3, a break of 62 did the damage.
But Selby raised his game and sunk a cool 121 break to edge ahead again and then gain himself a welcome two-frame cushion with a break of 70 in the final frame of the session.
