Trump holds lead

Trump showed the confidence and composure that earned him his first ranking victory at last month’s China Open to heap pressure on his opponent whilst scoring enough to make the most of his chances.

Robertson stole an important first frame of the evening session to level 5-5 with a nerveless but difficult pink and black after Trump missed a routine pink on 54.

Trump did not allow his head to drop though and carried on his good work from the first session with a well-taken break of 70 to regain the lead.

The 21-year-old from Bristol missed frame-ball in the next with a chance to go two frames clear as Robertson made a great clearance complete with a typically emotional reaction on exiting the arena.

Trump was guilty of missing frame-ball for the third time in the evening in frame 15 but did not pay the price as Robertson conceded after missing a black which left him requiring snookers.

A well-taken 75 from the world number 14 made it 8-7 in Trump’s favour and he moved within a frame of victory with the next.

A 53 put Trump in pole position in the next frame but an outrageous fluke from Robertson put paid to that as he tried to launch a come-back.

But Trump kept his cool in the last and was not to be denied a deserved victory with an impressive 83 roared on by an appreciative Crucible crowd.

FIRST SESSION

Robertson is bidding to become the first-time winner to successfully defend the world title, but he was always bracing himself for a tough test against Trump, who is fresh from winning the recent China Open in Beijing.

The Australian player won the opening frame of the day with a break of 72, but missed a tricky red along the top cushion as Trump levelled at 1-1.

Trump slotted blue, pink and black to pinch the third frame of the day after Robertson missed a blue over the pocket in swerving the white around the pink.

Robertson restored parity with a run of 79 in the fourth frame only for Trump to make a lovely break of 122 to move 3-2 clear.

Robertson returned the compliment with a knock of 127 to level at 3-3, but was guilty of squandering chances in the next two frames as Trump carved out a 5-3 lead to ensure he would be ahead before they play to a finish at 7pm this evening.

Robertson was facing falling three frames behind, but remained in touch with a closing break of 100. The first man to 10 frames will secure a place in the last 16.

In the evening’s other match Shaun Murphy froze out Marcus Campbell in taking a seemingly insurmountable 9-0 overnight lead as the Scot failed to pot more than 40 balls throughout the evening.