Zhao Xintong won six frames in a row to build a 12-4 lead over Chris Wakelin going into the last session of their Halo World Championship quarter-final battle.
Zhao needs just one more frame when they return on Wednesday at 2.30pm to become the third player from mainland China to reach the semi-finals, after Ding Junhui and Si Jiahui.
Former UK Championship winner Zhao is already enjoying the deepest ever run in this event by an amateur - though he is set to rejoin the pro tour next season. In fact if he reaches the last four, the guaranteed prize money of £100,000 will be enough to lift him into the top 64 of the Johnstone's Paint World Rankings which means that going into 2025/26 the 28-year-old will retain the ranking points he has earned this season.
Having won four qualifying matches just to make it to the Crucible, Zhao will extend that streak to seven consecutive victories if he adds the one frame he needs. His next opponent would be Ronnie O'Sullivan or Si Jiahui.
Zhao led 6-2 after the opening session and had a golden chance to extend his lead in the first frame tonight but missed the final blue leading 54-45. Wakelin later cleared from blue to black to narrow the gap, and also took frame ten by clearing from the last red for 6-4. The Englishman, who knocked out Neil Robertson and Mark Allen, looked to have the momentum at that stage, but lost his way in the remainder of the session.
A scrappy 11th went Zhao's way, then in the 12th he got the better of a tactical exchange on the yellow and cleared for 8-4. After the interval, a run of 56 helped Zhao extend his advantage to five frames. Wakelin failed to register a single point in the next two as Zhao made breaks of 68 and 43 for 11-4. In the last of the session, Wakelin was on 24 when he missed a short-range red to centre, and Zhao countered with 58 before securing the frame with a long pot on the last red.
On the other table, the clash between all-time greats John Higgins and Mark Williams is perfectly poised at 8-8 heading into their final session which starts on Wednesday at 10am. Higgins led 5-1 in the early stages this morning but Williams has fought his way back to all square and they both need five more to set up a tie with Judd Trump or Luca Brecel.
Four-time champion Higgins is targeting a 12th Crucible semi-final while three-time winner Williams is hoping to make it to the last four for the eighth time. The pair have met five times at the Theatre of Dreams before, Welshman Williams winning four of those including the 2018 final.
Williams, age 50, took the opening frame tonight with a break of 92 to reduce his arrears to 5-4, before 49-year-old Higgins took frame ten with a run of 57. Welshman Williams dominated the next two with breaks of 50, 51 and 62 to level at 6-6, then Higgins had first chance in the 13th but made just 17 before failing to split the pack off the yellow, and his opponent's run of 43 helped him go ahead for the first time.
A scrappy 39-minute 14th frame went Higgins' way and the Scot then made a break of 70 to lead 8-7. He had first chance in the last frame of the session but could only make 36, and Williams responded with an excellent 65 which included a double to a centre pocket on the last red.