Stephen Hendry edged past Barry Pinches to reach the quarter-finals of the UK Seniors Championship on Wednesday in Hull.
The Scot won the first frame with a break of 76 but found himself 2-1 behind and in danger of heading for an early exit from the competition.
However, the seven-time former world champion dug deep and a break of 50 forced a deciding frame, which he duly won to progress to the last eight.
Hendry, still searching for his first title on the World Seniors Snooker Tour, will face old rival Ken Doherty in the UK Seniors quarter-finals – the Irishman and 2018 champion having beaten Lee Walker 3-0 on Tuesday.
David Lilley and Jimmy White, who contested the World Seniors Championship final last year, are both also still involved after respective victories against Philip Williams and Patrick Wallace.
White, a prolific winner on the seniors circuit, will encounter Wayne Cooper next after an easy triumph for the latter against John Parrott, while world seniors champion Lilley will face Joe Johnson.
Johnson prevailed in a mostly scrappy and tense clash with Rod Lawler that lasted the distance on day two at the Bonus Arena.
Elsewhere, Peter Lines and Kuldesh Johal will go head-to-head in the remaining UK Seniors Championship quarter-final tie.
Lines knocked out defending champion Michael Judge while Johal effectively ended the long career of Canadian Cliff Thorburn, who announced prior to this week’s tournament that this would likely be his last outing in competitive snooker.
There is live coverage in the UK on the BBC iPlayer and Red Button, with Irish viewers able to watch on Virgin Media Sport.
Quarter-Finals Draw
Peter Lines vs Kuldesh Johal
(Thursday 12pm)
Stephen Hendry (5) vs Ken Doherty (4)
(Thursday, est. 9pm)
Jimmy White (3) vs Wayne Cooper
(Thursday, 7pm)
Joe Johnson (7) vs David Lilley (2)
(Thursday, est. 2pm)
Featured photo credit: WSS
The 2004 Crucible clash between Hendry and Pinches that ended 13-12 in favour of the Scot was a classic. I remember telling my A-level General Studies teacher that I would be absent for the afternoon lesson due to it clashing with the final session. I think he thought I was joking but as a huge Hendry fan back I had an absence mark to my name!