Rising star Robertson books place in round two at Crucible
Neil Robertson rose to fame by winning two ranking tournaments last year
Sunday, 20, Apr 2008 08:53
Rising star Neil Robertson is through to the second round of the world championship after a 10-4 win over Nigel Bond at the Crucible.
Bond, a runner-up in 1995, reduced his overnight deficit to 3-7 with a break of 67. But Australian Robertson, 26, hit back with a 63 to retain his five-frame lead.
The pair shared the next two frames with half-centuries, before the world number seven sealed victory with a break of 84.
Robertson, nicknamed the Melbourne Machine, will be back in action on Saturday against either Stephen Maguire or Anthony Hamilton.
Meanwhile, seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry is in danger of a first round exit as he trails Mark Allen 3-6.
Allen, 22, rattled in breaks of 70, 87, 91 and 49 to win four frames in a row in the opening session.
The Northern Irishman, sporting a red fringe, needs four more frames for victory when play resumes tomorrow morning.
Elsewhere, Welshman Ryan Day will resume tomorrow with a 5-4 lead over Ireland's Michael Judge.
Their pair shared the first four frames before Day won the next two for a 4-2 lead.
Judge hit back by winning the next frames to level before Day made his third half-century of the session to take a slender lead.
The winner of this tie will clash with defending champion John Higgins over 25 frames in round two.