In the 2005–06 season, he continued to progress, moving up to the top 16 of the rankings at the end of the season. He reached four quarter-finals in the season, including the 2006 World Championships, in which he fought back from 8–12 down to level at 12–12 against eventual champion Graeme Dott, before losing the final frame by inadvertently potting the final pink, which he needed on the table in his attempts to snooker Dott.