World Snooker Championship 2014: Neil Robertson near century of centuries

Neil Robertson moved to within one century of 100 for the season as he opened up a 9-7 lead over Mark Allen in an absorbing second-round contest at the World Snooker Championship.

Having long since smashed Judd Trump’s record of 63 centuries in a tour season, the Australian is bidding to record the first three-figure tally - with two centuries at the Crucible on Sunday taking him to the brink of that landmark.

Robertson and Allen could not be separated in the opening session and that theme continued in the evening as the lead changed hands three times.

The opening frame of the evening was a scrappy affair with 30 minutes passing without a pot at one stage but once Robertson got amongst the balls he claimed it with a 72.

He clearly had another century on his mind as he attempted to pot the green with deep screw but only succeeded in chipping the cue ball into the pocket.

Allen hit back straight away with a run of 71 before another scrappy affair followed with Robertson prevailing but again he could not pull away and a break of 77 from Allen saw them go into the mid-session interval level.

The Northern Irishman then edged ahead with a break of 84 but Robertson racked up century No 99 of the season in the next with a stunning clearance of 137. The world No 1 then claimed the final two frames of the night and for the first time in the match, the men were separated by more than one frame.

Marco Fu and Shaun Murphy also came into their evening session tied at 4-4 but Murphy threatened to run away with it as he got off to a flying start. The 31-year-old took the first three frames of the session without requiring a break higher than 67 but when he registered a 102 clearance to make it 8-4 he looked to be in total control.

Fu is made of stern stuff, though, and he came out after the break and stopped the rot by winning the 13th and 14th frames. Murphy reopened his three-frame cushion by taking the next but Fu then registered a break of 136 and will go into Monday evening just 9-7 behind.

Earlier in the day, Judd Trump remained on course for the quarter-finals after splitting the second session with Ryan Day to defend his four-frame lead at 10-6. Dominic Dale is almost assured of his place in the next round after moving within a frame of victory against giant-killer Michael Wasley.