Iulian Boiko produced some superb scoring form to remain on course for a quickfire return to the main World Snooker Tour circuit at Q School.
The 18-year-old Ukraine player struggled to make the grade and dropped off the professional tour in 2020, two years after becoming the youngest professional in history aged 14 in 2020.
The Kyiv potter qualifed after receiving a two-year card after finishing runner-up at the 2022 world junior final, but is poised to secure a new two-year card after reaching the last 32 of event one at Q School on Friday with a 4-1 win over Andres Petrov that saw him weigh in with breaks of 79, 60, 94 and 52.
He will face Artemijs Zizins on Saturday morning chasing three more victories in his quest to return to the big time.
Elsewhere, 1995 world semi-finalist Andy Hicks completed a 4-3 win over Sean Sullivan to reach the last 32 while there also a 4-2 win for Mark Joyce against Yu Kiu Chang.
The last 32 and last 16 rounds will be completed on Saturday at the Mattioli Arena, host venue for this year’s Q School, before Sunday’s quarter-finals produces four winners, who all earn tour cards for the next two seasons.
The best-of-seven frame encounters run between Tuesday May 21 until Sunday May 26 at qualifying event one.
Qualifying event two begins on Monday May 27 until Saturday June 1 in Leicester with the same process providing four more tour cards.
Two Asia and Oceania qualifying events in Bangkok (22-27 May and May 28 until June 2) will see four more tour cards up for grabs.