Ken Doherty started his defence of the vcpoker.ie Irish Professional Championship with a 5-0 win over Patrick Wallace, at the Red Cow Exhibition Centre in Dublin.
The world number four comfortably won the first frame, took the second on the black, and added a break of 54 on his way through to a quarter final against David Morris or Vincent Muldoon.
'There weren't many big breaks but a win is a win,' said the 1997 world champion.
'Apart from the second frame, the rest were fairly comfortable. It's a title we all hold close to our hearts, because it means a lot to be your national champion.'
Rising star Mark Allen also reached the last eight, but by a much less straightfoward route.
The 21-year-old from Antrim, who beat Doherty in the first round of the World Championship in April, took the last two frames to see off Garry Hardiman 5-4 and avert a major upset.
Gerard Greene recovered from the loss of the first two frames to beat Leo Fernandez 5-3, and Joe Delaney, fresh from his success in qualifying for next month's televised stage of the Royal London Watches Grand Prix, cruised to a 5-1 win over Eamonn Kelly.
