Patrick Wallace secured a dream quarter-final against his lifelong friend Joe Swail as he despatched Romford's Mark King 13-5 in the battle of the qualifiers.
World number 59 Wallace, who trounced eighth seed Alan McManus 10-2 in the first round, played some terrific snooker and won sevensuccessive frames to seal victory with the highlight a splendid clearance of 125.
"I'm totally surprised to win so comfortably," said the 31-year-old from Dungannon, who had to come through three qualifying rounds just to takehis place at the Crucible.
"I watched the tournament on television last year and in the quarter-finals Joe played Dominic Dale, who had beaten me in the qualifiers. I wassat there thinking 'it could have been me'.
"There was no way in the world I could have believed that a year on it would actually come true.
"Joe's like a brother to me. I've known him for 15 years. It will be the biggest match of my life and a difficult one to prepare for but I must get myhead right for it."
PA