It was a case of third time lucky for Thepchaiya Un-Nooh as he finally compiled his maiden maximum break at the Paul Hunter Classic on Saturday.
The Thai famously missed the final black twice last season, during both the UK and World Championships, and the pressure must have been immense as got near the 140 mark once again.
However, aside from a tentative shot from blue to pink, the 31 year-old stroked in each remaining ball with ease, finally sinking that black to the delight of the enthusiastic German crowd in Furth.
Un-Nooh is in line to collect a cool £40,000 for the perfect break, should nobody match his feat on the final day of action on Sunday.
The six-red world champion is also still in the running for his first ranking title with victories over Lu Chenwei, Dechawat Poomjaeng and Kurt Maflin sending him into the last 16 – where he’ll meet Mark Allen.
The Northern Irishman is competing in his first event of the campaign but successfully dusted off the cobwebs with defeats of Zhang Yong, compatriot Joe Swail and Li Hang.
Elsewhere, a pair of amateurs in Gerard Greene and Zack Richardson advanced to the fourth round where they’ll face Jamie Jones and Tom Ford respectively.
English duo David Grace and Robbie Williams made up the eight cueists who came through the opening three rounds on the penultimate day.
Sunday will see the last 16 whittled down until a champion is determined, and the €25,000 winner’s cheque earned.