Ken Doherty became Ireland’s second player to reach the quarter-finals of the Embassy World Championship on a great day in Sheffield.
The Dubliner, who lifted the sport's most prestigious trophy four years ago, joined his friend from north of the border Joe Swail, who staged one of his trademark great escapes to knock out top seed Mark Williams in a thriller.
Seventh seed Doherty beat his practice partner Michael Judge 13-7, wrapping it up after his opponent, first-round conqueror of John Parrott, had enjoyed a couple more moments of glory with frame-winning breaks of 82 and 72.
But the 31-year-old did not believe he had advertised his chances of capturing the title again despite the shock departure of favourite Williams.
"The first session of the match was dreadful and the second only a bit better," said Doherty, winner of two ranking events this season.
"It's hard to play against someone you practise with because there is so much at stake. I love to see Michael doing well but not at my expense. "He played very well against John Parrott and I'm just delighted to get over the line."
Doherty saluted Swail for his heroics against Williams and, with Patrick Wallace still to play his second-round match, he recognised what a great tournament this is turning out to be for Ireland.
"I thought Joe was fantastic," said Doherty. "He played really well, had a 140 break - the highest of the tournament so far - and there could be three Irishmen in the last eight.
"But my game is not yet in the condition. It needs to be if I am to win the tournament and I'll need to play better in the next round to stay in the event.
"I can't derive much confidence from that performance but there is still everything to play for."
Doherty will certainly need to be at his best in his quarter-final as his likely opponent is second seed John Higgins, who took a 6-2 lead over fellow Scot Chris Small.
-PA-