Mark Allen defeated Aaron Hill 4-1 in an all-Irish battle at the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast, with the world number eight set to meet fellow Antrim player Jordan Brown in the quarter-finals after his 4-2 win over an in-from Shaun Murphy.
The last-16 clash between Allen and Hill was a third pro meeting of the sometime practice partners and Allen is yet to taste defeat.
Neither player was at their best at the Waterfront Hall but Allen, twice a title winner in Belfast, used all of his experience to grind down his 23-year-old opponent.
A loose safety shot from Hill was ruthlessly punished by Allen in the first frame as he knocked in a break of 137.
Hill hit back in the next, needing two chances - with breaks of 24 and 65 - to tie up the match but that would be as good as it got as Allen won the next three frames.
Hill had his chance in the third frame but only managed 43, with Allen delivering a body blow to sneak back into the lead, taking the frame on the black.
Again the Cork man had an early chance in the fourth, but he missed a black off the spot in an attempt to force an angle and Allen showed no mercy.
The Pistol capitalised on a poor safety from Hill with a break of 69 to leave himself on the brink of victory in the match. He missed the frame ball, but he would finish it off shortly afterwards.
Brown and Murphy have experienced contrasting runs of form this season, but the home hope delighted fans by making a fast start to secure the opening three frames, beginning with breaks of 70 and 61.
The Englishman responded emphatically with a break of 135 and also took the fifth frame, but Brown edged the sixth frame despite a break of 54 from Murphy.
Allen will aim to ensure that the Antrim Ferrari's progress comes to a screeching halt when the two meet on Friday night.
However, the home favourite came out on top in a tense sixth frame to book his place in the last eight.
Judd Trump defeated Gary Wilson 4-1, with Tom Ford recording a 4-2 win over Yuan Sijun.
Defending champion Kyren Wilson and Jack Lisowski both secured 4-2 victories over He Guoqiang and Thepchaiya Uh-Noo, respectively.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yuelong progressed automatically after Ali Carter withdrew from the event for personal reasons.
