Feuding snooker stars Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Williams remain on course for a semi-final head-to-head at the Citywest Irish Masters after cruising through their second round games in Dublin today.
World number one O'Sullivan was first into the quarter-finals with a 5-1 victory over Ali Carter, followed a few minutes later by Williams, who knocked out Scotsman Jamie Burnett by the same score.
But while their match on Saturday would be eagerly anticipated after yesterday's verbal exchanges, Matthew Stevens and Paul Hunter could stop the potential show down.
O'Sullivan meets Welshman Stevens in a repeat of last season's Irish Masters quarter-final while Williams faces Hunter.
The latter duo have met on 11 occasions including three times in as many months. Williams has won 10 of those matches but admitted he must raise his game against the talented Yorkshireman.
O'Sullivan also knows there is room for improvement in his game despite his routine win over world number 31 Carter.
He started well enough in the first two frames as Carter did not pot a ball but his break of 66 in the first frame turned out to be his best of the match.
Carter won his only frame with a 120 to trail 3-1 but the 'Rocket' took the next two to ease through.
PA