Joe Johnson rolled back the years with a terrific performance to reach the quarter-finals of the World Seniors Championship in Scunthorpe on Wednesday.
The 1986 world champion was second favourite against qualifier Patrick Wallace, who superbly came through the Dublin preliminary earlier this month, but looked the part as he comprehensively beat the Northern Irishman 3-0.
With a 30-second shot clock enacted, Wallace looked decidedly edgy, which Johnson duly took advantage of with some calm break building and astute tactical awareness.
Wallace had been one of the competitors flying in under the radar for potential glory this week but Johnson, 64, barely provided him with an opportunity to amass any significant number of points.
Johnson, who won Seniors Pot Black in 1997 and was a key figure in the return of the World Seniors in 2010, moves forward into the last eight to meet fellow Englishman John Parrott.
The remaining three seeds in action on the opening day at The Bath Halls didn’t fare as promisingly, though.
Ireland’s Patsy Fagan was whitewashed by Peter Lines, who represents many people’s favourite for the title on Friday, while Willie Thorne was downed 3-1 by Aiden Owens.
In the final game of the day, heartthrob Tony Knowles almost advanced but suffered an agonising 3-2 defeat to qualifier Jonathan Bagley – the outcome decided, as matches are when tied during this event, on a re-spotted black.
On Thursday, seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry makes an eagerly awaited return to the baize while Dennis Taylor and Cliff Thorburn are also in action.
