Ronnie O'Sullivan recovered from a sluggish start to run out a 6-2 winner against Anthony McGill at the UK Championship.
McGill began ominously with a century break and then moved into a 2-0 lead, but thereafter it was one-way traffic as O'Sullivan marched into round two, 30 years to the day after his victory in the event as a 17-year-old.
Successive runs of 89 were followed by three more half-centuries as O'Sullivan responded to Judd Trump's impressive opening win, the two potentially on course to meet in the final of the first Triple Crown event on the calendar.
It's one that O'Sullivan has dominated down the years, seeming to particularly relish trips to York.
"You get to the point when you think I'll just keep going as long as I can," he said afterwards.
"When I was 35, I thought I was probably done and dusted. But I've had my best 10 years. I thought anything was a bonus. I think you appreciate it more. I'm a born again snooker player."
On the opposite table, John Higgins beat Joe O'Connor 6-3.
Higgins never trailed in the match and finally swatted aside a dogged opponent with breaks of 122 and 66 to join O'Sullivan in the last 16.
Robertson woes continue
Neil Robertson suffered another early exit as he was outclassed by Zhou Yuelong in the evening session.
The Chinese hit breaks of 136, 134 and 99 on his way to a 6-2 victory, which saw Robertson lose early in a seventh ranking event so far this season.
O’Sullivan will meet Robert Milkins in the next round after his compatriot claimed a final-set decider against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.
Milkins had looked dead and buried when his Thai opponent led 5-3, but a 121 break kick-started a run of three successive frames to claim victory.
Tuesday November 28
Afternoon session (1300 GMT)
- Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Anthony McGill
- John Higgins 6-3 Joe O'Connor
Evening session (1900 GMT)
- Robert Milkins 6-5 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
- Neil Robertson 2-6 Zhou Yuelong
