Tournament favourite Neil Robertson looked in ominous form as he defeated debutant Ashley Hugill 10-5 in the first round of the World Championship.
Robertson, champion in 2010, trailed 3-1 but hit back in devastating fashion as a run of eight frames in a row helped him to a comfortable victory.
Robertson faces Jack Lisowski or Matthew Stevens in the next round.
The 2015 champion Stuart Bingham safely made it through to the next round with a 10-5 win over China’s Lyu Haotian.
Englishman Bingham’s 140 in the eighth frame is the highest break of the tournament so far and he also stroked in seven further runs of 50 or more in a high-scoring performance.
Bingham, 45, sets up a tasty second-round encounter against former finalists Kyren Wilson or Ding Junhui.
Robertson faces Jack Lisowski or Matthew Stevens in the next round.
The 2015 champion Stuart Bingham safely made it through to the next round with a 10-5 win over China’s Lyu Haotian.
Englishman Bingham’s 140 in the eighth frame is the highest break of the tournament so far and he also stroked in seven further runs of 50 or more in a high-scoring performance.
Bingham, 45, sets up a tasty second-round encounter against former finalists Kyren Wilson or Ding Junhui.
Scotland’s four-time winner John Higgins faces a tricky tie, trailing Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 5-4. They play to a conclusion on Wednesday morning.
Former Masters champion Yan Bingtao defeated Englishman Chris Wakelin 10-6 with a flurry of top scoring, including two centuries and nine breaks of 50 or more.
The Chinese player’s win sets up a fascinating second-round meeting against defending champion Mark Selby.
World number 14 Lisowski leads Welshman Stevens 6-3, with the pair playing to a finish on Wednesday afternoon.
Robertson ‘no doubt’ a contender
Australia’s Robertson has been the player of the season so far, winning four titles including the Masters and finishing runner-up in another, but his record in Sheffield is surprisingly poor.
The 40-year-old has reached just one semi-final since lifting the trophy 12 years ago, a run the world number three described as being “terrible, awful, shocking”.
But after a slow start and seeing his opponent pull two frames back late on, Robertson proved too good for Crucible first-timer Hugill with heavy scoring including four centuries as well as runs of 97 and 72.
Robertson’s mother Alison was in attendance when he lifted the trophy 12 years ago and has flown over from Melbourne again, with the two seeing each other for the first time in three years.
He told BBC Sport: “I was a little bit nervy at the start but settled down quickly. She arrived three weeks ago and no-one has been able to get out of Australia because of the pandemic.
“She has a 100% strike record whenever she has come over, seeing me win this tournament, my first UK Championship in 2013 and Tour Championship this year too. Hopefully she is my lucky charm.”
Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry said: “It has been very strong from Robertson. At 3-1 he could have gone 4-1 down and looked edgy. But like Ronnie O’Sullivan, he did well to be 6-3 in front after the first session.
“When he get in he looks like he will clear the table every time. There is no doubt he is going to be a contender for this World Championship.”
- Read from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/61149938
