Ronnie O'Sullivan survived a major scare to edge out world number 84 Sunny Akani 6-5 in the UK Championship.
Five-time tournament winner O'Sullivan squeezed home in the deciding frame, after Akani blew the chance to wrap up victory when leading 5-4.
O'Sullivan will now meet Martin Gould in the quarter-finals, and will doubtless be relieved to have prevailed over Thailand's 22-year-old Akani, who led 2-0, 4-2 and 5-4 in an enthralling encounter.
Five-time world champion O'Sullivan remains on course for yet another title at the York Barbican, but must clearly sharpen up after a patchy effort on Thursday night.
What. A. Match.@ronnieo147 edges it [6-5], but Sunny Akani delighted all at the York Barbican tonight!
— World Snooker (@WorldSnooker1) December 7, 2017
Memorable #baizeofglory @betway pic.twitter.com/VM1U80fnC6
The 2008 tournament winner Shaun Murphy stormed past Ricky Walden 6-1, to book a quarter-final against Mark King.
"On another day it could have been closer," Murphy told the BBC.
"It was a bit tighter than the score suggests. I picked up a few of his crumbs.
"He had chances and didn't take them."
Mark Joyce saw off Lyu Haotian 6-4 to book a last-eight showdown with Wales' Ryan Day.
