Jordan Brown and Mark Allen produced a home-win double on Wednesday night at the Waterfront in Belfast to reach the last 16 of the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open.
Brown is yet to drop a frame in the event, following up his win on Sunday against Zhao Xintong with another whitewash, this time against England’s Ashley Hugill.
The 37-year-old opened with a break of 73 and after winning a scrappy second, added a run of 90 for 3-0.
The fourth frame turned tactical after Brown established a healthy lead, and he was able to see it out to progress to a last-16 game against Shaun Murphy on Thursday evening, in what will be his first appearance in the last 16 of a ranking event for two years.
Allen was given a tougher test by his opponent, Ben Woollaston, who led 2-1 after losing the first frame. The topsy-turvy nature of the game continued as Allen hit the front with back-to-back centuries (100 and 135) for the second time in the tournament.
A break of 80 from Woollaston forced a decider but it was Allen who prevailed, again for the second time this week, a break of 57 proving decisive.
The world number eight now takes on Aaron Hill in a north v south battle on Thursday afternoon.
Last 32 (in draw order)
Ryan Day (Wal) v Kyren Wilson (Eng) (playing Wednesday night)
He Guoqiang (Chi) bt Wu Yize (Chi) 4-2
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (Tha)bt Mark Davis (Eng) 4-1
Jack Lisowski (Eng) bt Mark Selby (Eng) 4-2
Yuan Sijun (Chi) bt Long Zehuang (Chi) 4-2
Tom Ford (Eng) bt Chris Wakelin (Eng) 4-1
Ali Carter (Eng) v Jimmy Robertson (Eng) (playing Wednesday night)
Zhou Yuelong bt David Grace (Eng) 4-2
Judd Trump (Eng) bt Jackson Page (Wal) 4-2
Gary Wilson (Eng) bt Martin O’Donnell (Eng) 4-2
Si Jiahui (Chi) bt Stephen Maguire (Sco) 4-0
John Higgins (Sco) bt Pang Junxu (Chi) 4-3
Aaron Hill (Ire) bt Barry Hawkins (Eng) 4-3
Mark Allen (NI) bt Ben Woollaston (Eng) 4-3
Shaun Murphy (Eng) bt Elliott Slessor (Eng) 4-2
Jordan Brown (NI) bt Ashley Hugill (Eng) 4-0