Neil Roberston laid down an early Masters marker when beating current world champion Mark Williams 6-3 at Alexandra Palace.
Robertson has endured an uncharacteristically quiet 18 months but the Australian lifted this trophy back in 2012 and has looked to be nearing that level of form more recently.
Nevertheless, it was Williams - another short of his best this season - who started the brighter and he led 3-1 at the mid-session interval despite only making one break over 50.
Robertson responded in terrific style upon the resumption, though, breaks of 59 and 102 drawing him level before he took the lead for the first time in the match with a run of 69 in frame seven.
Despite making a break of 53, Williams lost frame eight following a stalemate on the final pink before Robertson put the match to bed moments later with another clinical contribution, this time of 88.
Robertson: ‘I feel as though someone is going to have to play really well to beat me’
A brilliant performance from @nr147 as he beats the world champion 6-3!#EurosportSnooker pic.twitter.com/8cvUG05x89
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) January 15, 2019
Barry Hawkins eases to victory over Shaun Murphy
In the evening session, Barry Hawkins set up a quarter-final meeting with Robertson by beating Shaun Murphy 6-2.
The 39-year-old registered breaks of 86, 124 and 60 as he raced into a 5-0 lead before Murphy showed fight by sealing consecutive frames at Alexandra Palace.
Hawkins proved too strong though, winning frame eight to seal a comfortable victory over former world champion Murphy.
"Anything can happen in this game and if he goes 5-3 then all of a sudden I'd start feeling it a little bit more. I was pleased to get over the line at last," Hawkins said.
Murphy was unable to reproduce the form which saw him reach last month's Scottish Open final.
"We all taste that horrible taste of defeat much more often than we have the excitement of winning," he said.
"It's something that you have to deal with as a sportsman and just move on."
HUGE fluke from @TheHawk147! #DafabetMasters pic.twitter.com/bOgGCmUZQb
— World Snooker (@WorldSnooker) January 15, 2019
Barry Hawkins becomes the 20th player to reach 300 career centuries...
— World Snooker (@WorldSnooker) January 15, 2019
...as he extends his lead over Shaun Murphy to 4-0!#DafabetMasters @Dafabet pic.twitter.com/gZktIP7MuI
Tuesday results and schedule
Tuesday January 15
Afternoon Session (1300 - BBC/Eurosport)
- Mark Williams 3-6 Neil Robertson
Evening Session (1900 - BBC/Eurosport)
- Barry Hawkins 6-2 Shaun Murphy
Click here for the full tournament schedule & results
