A stunning run of three centuries in four frames from Mark Selby saw him sweep to a 13-3 victory over Marco Fu, winning with a session to spare in the last eight of the Betfred World Championship.
The scoring flurry featured an extravagant 143 from Selby that briefly put him at the head of the queue for the tournament's £10,000 top-break prize, before being leapfrogged by Ronnie O'Sullivan's 146 in defeat against Ding Junhui.
Selby frequently ran out of ideal position but produced a host of cavalier pots, including terrific blacks to the left middle and green pockets and a run of exhibition shots.
It was an extraordinary effort, and defending world champion Selby said: "I think it was a good break because I was never in position.
"I just kept potting silly balls from nowhere. I got to about 80 and thought it was the end of the break, and I potted a black into the middle, potted a red down the rail, but when I got down to the black I was more nervous than in any part of the match.
"I was really, really happy to knock that final black in as well. It was a freaky break."
With Selby wrapping things up with a session to spare, we turn our attention to just one table tonight.
— World Snooker (@WorldSnooker1) April 26, 2017
It's getting close! #ilovesnooker pic.twitter.com/9MMfSEXjkM
It followed runs of 132 and 139, as Selby demonstrated why he has been world number one for the last two years.
Fu was full of admiration for the 33-year-old, who is chasing the £375,000 top prize and plays Ding next, starting on Thursday afternoon.
"He's unplayable at times. You've got to make him the favourite now after that performance," Fu said.
On the other side of the draw, John Higgins has reached a first Crucible semi-final since landing his fourth world title as he completed a crushing victory over Kyren Wilson.
The 41-year-old Scot turned an overnight 11-5 lead into a 13-6 victory at the Betfred World Championship, and he awaits the winner of the quarter-final between Barry Hawkins and Stephen Maguire.
Higgins beat Judd Trump to take the 2011 world title, since when his best run had been a quarter-final showing last year.
But it is a more confident Higgins this year, and the 41-year-old is convinced he can land another championship.
"I believe I can, yeah, and it's a great feeling to have," said Higgins.
Higgins sympathised with Wilson, whose cue tip split in the first session of the match.
"He was desperately unlucky," Higgins said. "That's a big moment during the game and obviously for me it's worked out well."
Wilson attached a new tip but said it "felt like a Fruit Pastille".
Barry Hawkins earned a shot at Higgins, blocking off a possible all-Scottish last-four clash by beating Stephen Maguire 13-9.
Kent cueman Hawkins said after reaching his fourth Crucible semi-final in five years: "It was just a battle, the whole match. If I play anything like I did in this game then I'll get my bum smacked by John."
Maguire said: "I was disheartened to be 11-9 down and I felt the life just drained out of me. I've handed him that match there, he's not won it."
