Judd Trump booked his place in the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Players Championship with a 5-3 win over Ronnie O'Sullivan in Llandudno.
Trump, the world number three, moved into a 3-1 lead following breaks of 86 and 113.
However, the Rocket responded following the interval with a run of 109 to cut the deficit to 4-2, but Trump was quick to end any hopes of a comeback when he took victory in frame eight after another half-century break.
"It was getting kind of edgy, but I kind of felt like I controlled the whole game and it was mine to lose," Trump said in an interview with www.worldsnooker.com.
"The main difference was probably the safety (play), which was even better than my long potting, and every time he went to the table, he was in a bit of trouble, so I think if I can keep that up it is going to create a lot of chances."
In Wednesday's earlier matches, China's Ding Junhui fought back from 4-0 down to beat John Higgins and secure his place in the last eight.
Four-time world champion Higgins had seemed on course for a routine victory after opening up with a couple of half-century breaks before Ding mounted a remarkable recovery following the mid-session interval.
The world number five produced runs of 83 and 67 as he closed up the deficit before levelling with a clearance of 107 and then edging the decider 67 to 30 after Higgins failed to make the most of being let back onto the table.
Ding will next take on German Masters winner Anthony Hamilton for a place in the semi-finals.
The top-ranked Asian player revealed he had taken some time out on the practice tables during the mid-session interval before returning to start his fightback.
"When John is 4-0 up, he never gives you a chance, but today things just happened," Ding said.
"I was just thinking 'I want to win one frame', after that I just kept going and made some breaks to come back to a decider."
Ali Carter, meanwhile, battled past world number four Shaun Murphy 5-4 and will face Australian Neil Robertson in the last eight, with the winner of that match set to meet Trump on Thursday afternoon.
The 16-man Players Championship, with a #125,000 first prize, is the penultimate event before the seeding cut-off falls for the World Championship which starts in Sheffield on April 15.
