Mark Allen beat Ryan Day to reach the World Championship semi-finals and was joined by John Higgins and Neil Robertson.
Robertson and Higgins book semi spots
Mark Allen booked his place in the World Championship semi-finals as he held his nerve to seal a 13-11 victory over Welshman Ryan Day, while Neil Robertson and John Higgins also progressed to the last four.
The Northern Irish youngster proved his win over defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in the second round was far from a fluke as he kept Day at arm's length throughout their quarter-final encounter.
Resuming 9-7 ahead, the Welshman took the opening frame of the day with a break of 106 to halve the deficit, before Allen responded in kind with a contribution of 108 to re-establish his two-frame cushion.
The match then followed that pattern with the duo winning alternate frames until, when 12-11 ahead, Allen won the 24th to close out the match in style with another century, this time 103.
The 23-year-old was delighted with his triumph and confirmed he had realised a dream by reaching the semi-finals.
"I've always been confident in my own ability but looking at my results on papers you'd probably question why," Allen declared afterwards.
"I'm starting to perform a little bit more consistently.
"I'm very glad I've won that match because I read all the newspaper articles (after beating O'Sullivan) like I always do and a lot of people were quick to shoot me down after beating Ronnie, as being a one-hit wonder.
"So there was more pressure on me but I enjoy that, because I like to prove people wrong.
Dream
"My dream was to one day play at the Crucible and I've done that.
"Another dream was to play in the one-table set-up with a chance of winning the World Championship and I'm going to have that in the next match.
"Any big occasions that have been thrown at me so far I seem to have handled pretty well, so hopefully it's another one I'll be able to handle."
For his part, a downcast Day commented: "I'm bitterly disappointed to lose. I didn't feel that I played well enough in the early part of the match.
"I couldn't get it back on an even keel after letting the lead slip. I was always playing catch-up."
Higgins heroics
Higgins demonstrated all of his experience and fighting qualities as he beat Mark Selby in a thriller, eventually emerging victorious 13-12 for the second round running.
The Scot trailed 11-10 and 12-11, but fought back bravely to force a final-frame decider.
The tension was increased by two re-racks, but Higgins took his chance at the third time of asking with a break of 75 to secure a showdown with Allen in the semis.
Robertson moves on
Meanwhile, Robertson became the first Australian since 1982 to reach the semi-finals at the Crucible as he defeated much-fancied Steven McGuire 13-8.
The late Eddie Charlton was the last Australian to reach the final four some 27 years ago, but Robertson changed that statistic with a display that oozed confidence and will now face Shaun Murphy.
