Shaun Murphy beat three-time winner Ding Junhui 6-5 in a final-frame decider to move into the quarter-finals of the UK Championship in York.
While Ding constructed a sparkling break of 129 in the opening frame, both players appeared far from their best until the closing stages of the contest.
In a see-saw affair Ding trailed 2-1 and led 3-2 before Murphy reeled off three consecutive frames, with a superb run of 135 in the eighth frame his first break over 50 in the contest.
Ding responded with successive centuries to force an 11th frame but Murphy held his nerve, compiling a break of 65 on his way to victory.
He will now play world number 20 Barry Hawkins, who defeated fellow Englishman David Gilbert 6-5 in an equally hard-fought encounter.
Hawkins, who has already beaten eight-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, opened up in fine style with a superbly crafted break of 144.
However, he was then always playing catch up with Gilbert enjoying runs of 100, 88 and 102 and seemingly on the cusp of the last eight at 5-4 up.
Both players spurned opportunities to win a nervy 10th frame before Hawkins levelled the match, and a missed red to the right middle pocket proved costly for Gilbert in the last frame.
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