Click below to read how the last of the two first round matches at the Masters are unfolding…
Neil Robertson 6-4 Stephen Hendry
Neil Robertson secured a hard-fought win over Stephen Hendry this afternoon to book a tie with either Ali Carter or Peter Ebdon in the next round.
It was a strange old match where neither player really came close to finding their best form and almost every single frame could have gone either way. The first four before the interval were shared, though the way it unfolded it will have been Stephen Hendry who would have been the happiest as he looked set to fall 3-1 behind at one point. What was impressive however was the long pot success of both players which for at least frames remained at 100%!
When they resumed things did not really pick up, and they continued to trade frames, Hendry getting out jail in frame six in particular to level it at 3-3 when it looked for all the world that he would go 4-2 down. Things were to turn two frames later though as it was Robertson’s turn to steal a frame on the black having seen an attempted clearance from Hendry fall down on the final green.
From here Robertson knew it was an important moment in the match and it proved decisive as he won the next two frames to see out the match, clinching it with a well-taken break of 92. Despite not playing well and falling short of a 147 earlier in the contest, Neil will be relieved to be through and will know he has to up his game against Maguire in the next round.
For Hendry though it is another desperately disappointing defeat and his confidence must be at an all-time low, despite some brilliant long-potting.
Stephen Hendry 4-6 Neil Robertson 25-63, 77-32, 12-95(85), 109(80)-11, 0-97(97), 61(61c)-57(52), 70-4, 60(60)-61, 43(42)-67(47), 1-93(92)
Ali Carter 6-0 Peter Ebdon
World number seven Ali Carter completed an outstanding win 6-0 over the struggling Peter Ebdon tonight, though this match was all about Ali.
A 130 break in the opening frame look a bit ominous from Ali and so it proved as he added runs of 57 and 67 to lead 4-0 at the interval. On their resumption he started off with another ton, 124 this time and with a 64 in the last, sealed what was a fabulous result, leaving Ebdon with just no answer.
Next up for Ali will be another repeat of the 2008 World final as he looks to gain his first win over Ronnie O’Sullivan in a professional match. It won’t be easy by any means but if tonight is anything to go by, he looks more confident than I have ever seen him and he could make it a much closer contest.