Rankings leader Jack Robinson has made it through the elimination round at Hawaii's Sunset beach to keep alive his hopes of back-to-back titles to open the World Surf League season.
The West Australian clinched victory at Pipeline last week to take over the yellow jersey as the No.1 seed, but his quest for successive trophies was in danger after finishing last in his round-one heat at the Hurley Sunset Pro.
Robinson also had a slow start to the sudden-death round on Wednesday afternoon (local time) before scoring a 5.67 to take the lead in tricky conditions at the famous surf break.
He was overtaken by compatriot Jackson Baker, who won the heat with a combined two-wave score of 9.77, but Robinson's total of 8.50 saw him pip Hawaiian Kai Lenny by 0.5.
Baker, from Newcastle, is looking for a big result as he bids to make the midway season cut after finishing world No.17 last year.
He said his plan was quantity over quality after being caught short in round one.
"The other day I didn't have the greatest heat, I got one on the buzzer, but probably let a few go," the 26-year-old said.
"I had a couple drills the last few days just to actually get some waves and get the board under my feet and get confidence.
"In the first minute I got a 4.67 so I thought I'm moving in the right direction as that's one more than the last heat so that was good."
Robinson, who finished 2022 ranked world No.3, will next take on Costa Rica's Carlos Monoz while Baker is up against Japan's world No.5 Kanoa Igarashi.
Four heats in round one were completed after being held over from Monday's opening day while organisers waited for improved conditions.
Callum Robson, from the NSW far north coast, finished second behind Brazilian Yago Dora to safely advance.
Ryan Callinan was behind three-time world champion Gabriel Medina, sending fellow Australian Connor O'Leary into the elimination round where he bowed out.
Ethan Ewing, who reached the semi-finals at Sunset Beach last year, won his Monday heat when Liam O'Brien also booked a round-of-32 berth.
The women's event remained on hold with all six Australian women, including reigning world champion Stephanie Gilmore and last week's runner-up Tyler Wright, still alive.
