Mick Fanning has moved a step closer to clinching his fourth world surfing title, progressing to the third round at the penultimate tour event of the season in Portugal.
The World No.1 had too much class in small waves for Hawaii's Sebastian Zietz and local Tiago Pires in the opening-round heat.
"I had a gameplan before I got ready," said two-time Portugal event winner Fanning.
"When you see guys falter in front of you, you realise it can happen, so you just have to stick to your game. It's always great to skip a round."
Fanning, who is locked in a two-way battle with Brazil's Adriano de Souza to clinch the world title, won with a combined wave score of 13.24, a tick over three points clear of Pires.
While Fanning has progressed to the third round, de Souza faces a second-round eliminator after finishing last in his three-man heat.
Should de Souza be knocked out and Fanning go on to win the event, the Australian would most likely clinch the world title ahead of December's season-ending competition in Hawaii.
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