Jimmy White and Stephen Hendry completed the quarter-final lineup at the World Seniors Snooker Championship on Friday in Sheffield.
In front of a packed Crucible audience, the two legends of the game emerged from tough first-round encounters.
There was plenty of hubbub ahead of an evening session that featured a couple of the most famous players to grace the Crucible stage.
Hendry was first up, and the Scot managed to edge 2011 world seniors champion Darren Morgan in a 3-2 decider.
In a mostly scrappy affair, Hendry twice went in front only for his opponent to restore parity on both occasions to force the final frame.
A trademark break of 79 proved to be the timely difference, however, with the seven-time world champion setting up an intriguing encounter against Alfie Burden.
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White later delighted his army of supporters as he launched his bid to capture world seniors glory for a record-extending fourth time.
The Whirlwind has contested each of the last four title deciders in the tournament, and he’s one step closer to another appearance in the final after beating Philip Williams 3-1.
Williams won the first frame and had opportunities in frames two and three to really raise the possibility of an upset.
But White, who has earned a fresh two-year card to compete on the main tour through strong performances on the professional circuit this season, dug deep to move 2-1 in front.
The 61 year-old subsequently sealed his berth in the last eight in style with a break of 70, setting up an upcoming clash against Australian Adrian Ridley.
Previous finals
1991: Cliff Wilson 5-4 Eddie Charlton
2010: Jimmy White 4-1 Steve Davis
2011: Darren Morgan 2-1 Steve Davis
2012: Nigel Bond 2-0 Tony Chappel
2013: Steve Davis 2-1 Nigel Bond
2015: Mark Williams 2-1 Fergal O’Brien
2016: Mark Davis 2-1 Darren Morgan
2017: Peter Lines 4-0 John Parrott
2018: Aaron Canavan 4-3 Patrick Wallace
2019: Jimmy White 5-3 Darren Morgan
2020: Jimmy White 5-4 Ken Doherty
2021: David Lilley 5-3 Jimmy White
2022: Lee Walker 5-4 Jimmy White
Earlier on Friday, Ridley got the better of 1986 world champion Joe Johnson, while Ben Hancorn squeaked past Peter Lines in a 3-2 nailbiter.
Burden, meanwhile, made a strong debut in the World Seniors Snooker Championship with a resounding defeat of Ken Doherty on Thursday.
The others to progress to the quarter-finals were Tony Drago, Mark Davis, and Gerard Greene – the Northern Irishman having knocked out reigning champion Lee Walker.
World Seniors Snooker Championship Draw
Quarter-Finals
Best of seven (7)
1. Gerard Greene vs Ben Hancorn
Sat, May 6 – 12pm
2. Stephen Hendry vs Alfie Burden
Sat, May 6 – est. 9:30pm
3. Jimmy White vs Adrian Ridley
Sat, May 6 – 7pm
4. Tony Drago vs Mark Davis
Sat, May 6 – est. 2:30pm
Times in BST
How to watch the tournament
In the UK, the event will be live on the BBC Red Button and the iPlayer.
Viewers in all other countries and territories except China will be able to follow live play via a Matchroom.Live subscription.
Featured photo credit: WSS ; Photographer: Andy Chubb
Hendry and Burden have never met on the main tour.
Mark Davis has won all six of his previous meetings with Drago.