Judd Trump set-up a mouthwatering semi-final showdown with Ronnie O'Sullivan with a resounding 6-1 victory over Neil Robertson at the Players Championship.
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Trump was involved in the most enthralling first-round tie as he saw off Stephen Maguire in a match which contained four centuries, and he signed off with another here in an altogether less competitive affair.
Robertson took the first frame with a break of 68, but after a mistake in the second it was one-way traffic as defending champion Trump won six frames in a row to progress.
"The second frame was the turning point because Neil started off really well," said world number three Trump, aiming to win his second ranking title of the season and ninth of his career.
"He could have gone 2-0 up so the whole match turned on that. Neil wasn’t potting the balls he usually pots to get in, he was missing the 50/50 ones. I was capitalising on his mistakes."
Next is a clash with tournament favourite O'Sullivan, who turned on the afterburners to beat Ding Junhui 6-3 on Wednesday.
This is one title which O'Sullivan is yet to win, and it was Trump who sent him packing at the quarter-final stage last year.
"It will be tough against Ronnie, he is playing well. There are not many players who have a better record against him than me. It helps that I know him on a personal level because I practise with him.
"I’m probably a bit more comfortable with him than a lot of other players. He played amazingly in the final at the Shanghai Masters and hammered me there (10-3).
"I’m under no illusions as to how hard it will be, I will have to play better than today. A lot of the ranking events I have won, I have knocked him out along the way, and that shows the confidence you can get from beating him.
"I’m happy with my form now looking ahead to the World Championship, although it would be nice to go on and beat him and win this tournament. I think the World Championship is Ronnie’s to lose this year."
Ryan Day's bid for three titles in succession was ended by Mark Williams, who advanced to the last four with a 6-3 success.
Williams won the first four frames for the loss of just four points and while Day fought back to get within one, his Welsh compatriot responded with a 141 break to lead 5-3 before sealing an impressive victory.
Thursday March 22
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
TV Coverage: ITV4
Quarter-Finals (Best of 11 frames)
- Neil Robertson (12) 1-6 Judd Trump (4)
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
TV Coverage: ITV4
Quarter-Finals (Best of 11 frames)
- Ryan Day (10) 3-6 Mark Williams (2)
