FORMER Golden Cue champions Russell Large and Glenn Stevenson rolled back the years as they fired themselves into the semi-finals of the 2014 tournament.

Russell, who won the Golden Cue in 1991, edged a real thriller against Clitheroe’s Paul Clegg 3-2 to book a place in the last four.

“I had to dig really deep to shake off Paul’s tremendous challenge - it was a really tough tie,” said Large, who turns out for Poplar.

“I had to use all my experience, but I made it in the end.”

Stevenson is also flying the flag for the golden oldies, but the 1988 Golden Cue champ had an altogether easier ride against Colne's Craig Cryer, galloping to a 3-0 victory.

It proved a polished performance from veteran Stevenson, who made the most of every opportunity and quickly made his experience count.

Cryer, however, showed plenty of fight late on, posting a 44 break in the final frame - but Stevenson hit back with a 46 break of his own to keep him on the victory path.

Cryer then had a belated opportunity to secure the frame again, but missed a brown off the spot and Stevenson moved in for the kill by clearing to pink for the frame and match.

The other quarter-final ties will be between Simon Blackwell (British Rail) and Jack Sanderson (Lowerhouse), due to be played last night, while on Thursday Simon Lawless (Burnley) will lock horns with club mate Ben Allen (Burnley) at Ighten Leigh Social Club.