World Championship 2019: Neil Robertson takes two-frame lead over Shaun Murphy
- Published
Betfred World Snooker Championship |
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Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Dates: 20 April-6 May |
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, BBC Two, Red Button, iPlayer, Connected TV, BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app. |
World number four Neil Robertson built a 5-3 lead against fellow former champion Shaun Murphy in the opening last-16 tie at this year's World Championship.
Murphy failed to score a point in the first three frames but he won two of the next three to trail 2-4.
Robertson's second ton made it 5-2 before Murphy scored his second century, but missed out on a maximum 147 having potted 14 reds and 14 blacks.
In the other first-to-13 second-round tie, three-time champion Mark Selby is 5-3 down against qualifier Gary Wilson.
World number two Selby trailed his fellow Englishman 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2 with Wilson scoring a century and three further breaks of more than 50.
The Leicester man hit his second half-century to make it 4-3 but missed a good opportunity in the eighth frame and Wilson took advantage with a fine clearance to the final pink.
Murphy misses out on max moment
The world number 13 left himself a tough red to the middle pocket and it rattled in the jaws as he tried to engineer position on the black.
Murphy has had a poor season by his standards, but was in brilliant form in the first round.
The 36-year-old inflicted the biggest defeat in Crucible history, restricting Chinese qualifier Luo Honghao to a new low points tally of 89 in his record-equalling 10-0 win.
Robertson, the 2010 champion, showed similarly destructive qualities in the last 32 when he thrashed Michael Georgiou 10-1.
He remains one of the favourites to take this year's title, having won three ranking events this season.
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