Judd Trump admits a significant slice of fortune kept his Masters hopes alive after a dramatic 6-5 win over Ryan Day.
The Bristol ace came back from 5-3 down to clinch a decider at Alexandra Palace and set up a tantalising clash against Barry Hawkins, who beat Mark Allen 6-0 with a clinical performance on Tuesday.
Welsh star Day had two key opportunities to win the match but missed a shot on black into the right corner in the 10th frame before failing to pot the brown to the right middle in the 11th.
Trump’s win keeps his hopes of becoming a two-time winner at the Masters alive ahead of Saturday's quarter-final but despite coming out on top, he sympathised with his opponent's inability to get over the line.
The 33-year-old said: “You have always got to feel for your opponent, I have been in that sort of position before, and it is not good.
“So, I am over the moon to be through and to have potted a few crucial shots when I really needed to under pressure.
“Obviously, that is very pleasing.
“It was very unfortunate for that to happen, but those kinds of things haven't been happening for me all season.
"He hasn't done anything wrong, and he has ended up losing, it is always tricky, but for me, it is just that little bit of luck that you need to kick on and do well in the tournament.
"Barry Hawkins will be another tough game, but I am not really bothered who I have to play, I'm so happy to still be in the event.
"This is one right up there with the Crucible where you do not want to be going out in the first round, so it is just nice to be in the event."
Trump has endured a challenging start to the 2022 season.
The 2019 world champion reached the quarter-finals of the English Open, Scottish Open and the European Masters but has not managed to progress past that stage in any other ranking tournaments.
But the Ace in the Pack is not putting any pressure on himself after earning a free hit with a defiant, if error-filled, performance in the dramatic first round clash.
He added: "It is just a free shot for me.
"No [I won't put any expectation on myself], not if I play like that, it is going to be tricky.
"I think we both struggled, the table was quite heavy.
"I'm obviously relieved to be through, I should probably be on the way home now, and it is just amazing when that kind of thing happens.”
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