Steve Davis justified the sponsor's decision to award him the final place in the last ever Benson and Hedges Masters line-up by defeating Belfast's Joe Swail at Wembley this afternoon.
The 45-year-old six-times world champion set up a last 16 meeting with John Higgins thanks to a 6-4 victory over Swail.
Davis was never behind against Manchester-based Swail as he chalked up his first Wembley victory since defeating Ronnie O'Sullivan in the 1998 quarter-finals.
Swail, down to 30th on the provisional rankings from 16th at the start of the season, levelled on four occasions, but he couldn't get his nose in front and Davis put his vast experience to good effect in the closing two frames.
Evergreen Davis, who is enjoying a renaissance this season after several years in the doldrums, puts his good form down to a lack of practice.
"I'm happy with the way I'm playing so why bother with practice," said the three times Masters champion.
"I just knock the balls around with my father for a couple of hours. My confidence level is much higher now than a couple of years ago even though every so often my elbow hits the front row.
"But everyone has a twitch now and again. Overall though I was very pleased with my standard even though I missed a few stupid ones."
Davis has lost three times to Higgins already this term but insists: "I'm not saying it's my life ambition but I want to turn him over."