Snooker: Fergal O'Brien's World Championship campaign in Sheffield appears to be all but over after former champion John Higgins left himself needing only one frame to book a quarter-final place.
The 1998 winner, who has struggled in the second half of the season, looked in terrific form as he won six of last night's eight frames to lead 12-4 against the Dubliner.
In four of the last six frames O'Brien failed to score a point and registered only one in another as Higgins rattled in breaks of 100, 98 and 85, plus the evening's highlight, a 135 that equalled the highest contribution of the tournament so far.
Stephen Hendry's World Championship hopes are also hanging by the slenderest thread after Ali Carter built a 12-4 lead in their second-round match.
The seven-time champion, playing in his first tournament with a new cue, trailed 6-2 after the first session and was again completely outshone by the world number 15 who beat Hendry in the Malta Cup quarter-finals earlier this season.
Carter's break-building has been impressive and in addition to the 78 and 72 twice he made in the first session, he knocked in runs of 83 twice and a 66 to leave the world number one's spirits visibly crushed.
Earlier, Ronnie O'Sullivan capitalised on mistakes from his opponent and a slice of luck to build a 6-2 lead over Neil Robertson.
A contest that had been billed as potentially the best of the tournament was expected to be close, but 'The Rocket' will be delighted at opening a four-frame advantage for it certainly flattered him.
On the other table it was honours even as 2002 champion Peter Ebdon and Mark Selby ended their opening session level at 4-4.
Selby, who beat Stephen Lee in the first round, went 3-1 in front at the interval with a break of 76. But last year's runner-up responded with a 66, 62 and 60 to edge ahead before a 57 from the Leicester professional restored parity.