Ireland's Ken Doherty has made a sparkling start to his quarter-final clash with John Higgins at the Embassy World Snooker Championships in Sheffield this morning.
Just 15 hours after beating Scot Graeme Dott 13-12 in a marathon nine-hour match, the Dubliner was back at the table against Higgins and producing some outstanding snooker.
Doherty, the 1997 world champion, leads 8-0 after the opening morning session. He needs just five more frames to clinch a semi-final spot.
After a scrappy first frame Doherty - the world number five - found his touch. He knocked in 57 to double his advantage and then a 107 to lead 3-0.
Higgins, the 1998 champions, looked ready to mount a challenge in the next frame but after an opening break of 65 he allowed Doherty back to the table and the Irish star cleared up with a brilliant 66 to steal the frame on the black.
Runs of 50, 67 and 85 in the later frames of the session helped secure an emphatic lead.
The re-covering of both the match and practice tables overnight with new, thinner cloth has made a noticeable difference to the standard of snooker on offer.
Play resumes at 6.45 p.m.