Snooker: World number one Ronnie O'Sullivan came from behind to beat qualifier Ryan Day last night and complete the world championship quarter-final lineup.
O'Sullivan trailed 9-7 at the start of the final session but took advantage of some costly errors from Day to win six out of seven frames and seal victory and book a Crucible Theatre quarter-final against Mark Williams.
But in tonight's final session, when both players had trouble with their tip, O'Sullivan turned on the style to win five consecutive frames before eventually advancing 13-10.
It could have been different, however, if his Welsh opponent had not miscued disastrously when on the brink of a 10-8 lead.
In trying to pot the pink, Day lifted the white over the object ball and into a pocket, allowing O'Sullivan to make a decisive 24 that brought the score level.
That meant the world number one had the momentum, even though he was unhappy with his tip, and at the mid-session interval changed it to one he had arranged to borrow from John Parrott.
Such action appeared unnecessary considering the way he was playing, but O'Sullivan was understood to be lacking confidence when hitting power shots.
Day's only joy was when on the brink of defeat, pinching frame 22 to trail 12-10, but his tip let him down again as another miscue on the black early in the next let in O'Sullivan to wrap it up.
"It was a tough game and I'm lucky to be through," O'Sullivan said at the post-match news conference. "He had his chances to win, but he wasn't able to finish me off."
Peter Ebdon, who secured his place in the last eight with a comprehensive 13-2 victory over David Gray, will now face defending champion Shaun Murphy.