Neil Robertson turned a 5-3 deficit into a 9-7 lead after the second session of the World Championship final. The Aussie, bidding to become only the second left-handed winner of the tournament after Mark Williams, was quickest out of the traps as he took the first of the night with a 61 break.
The man from Melbourne produced the highest break of the final in frame ten, a fluid 90 drawing him level at 5-5. Dott thought he had secured the next with a 72 but Robertson cleared the colours after gaining the snooker he needed to force a re-spot on the black.
Dott tried to double the black but Robertson potted it to go into the lead for the first time in the match, at 6-5. Robertson showed obvious delight as he punched the air when he left the arena.
Robertson took a 7-5 lead into the mid-session interval, a 79 break retrieving a frame that Dott lead 53-0. The Australian, who now lives in Cambridge, was now very much in the ascendancy and stretched his advantage to 8-5. He looked like taking a significant lead into the final session, having won all five frames so far this evening.
Dott looked like a man under pressure but fought to overcome this, and a break of 56 brought him back to only 8-6 behind. The Dott recovery was now in full flow and a 53 break brought the score to just one behind at 8-7.
He looked as he may level as he got first opportunity in the final frame but broke down on 23. Grand Prix Champion Robertson however took the final frame. In doing so he ensured an overnight 9-7 lead, after winning the evening session 6-2.
.jpg)
