• Snooker World Championship

Robertson on the verge of first world final

Allister Carter was in determined mood but could not match his Australian opponent © Getty Images

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Neil Robertson is just two frames away from a place in the Snooker World Championship final after edging Allister Carter to take a six-frame lead into their final session on Saturday.

Despite the best attempts of Carter, Robertson, who had led 10-6 after the second session, produced his 43rd century break of the season to extend his lead and end the third session 15-9.

Robertson has entertained the Crucible crowd with his attacking approach throughout this year's tournament and produced more of the same as he moved closer to a place in the final. Carter won the opening frame after a topsy-turvy encounter, but Robertson responded, taking a tight second frame and extending his advantage with a break of 117.

He appeared to be motoring, winning another two frames to lead 14-7, but Carter battled valiantly with breaks of 41 and 55 to claw back to 14-9, but Robertson grabbed the final frame of the evening with a roar to put one foot in his first world final.

Earlier in the day, Robertson brushed aside a spirited comeback from Carter to build a commanding 10-6 lead after the second session.

Carter came into the session trailing 6-2 and found himself in need of a quick-fire response when his Australian opponent began the session with a classy clearance of 140. Carter looked set for an instant reply as he compiled a break of 36 in the tenth frame but a loose positional shot allowed Robertson in to steal the frame on a re-spotted black.

Unperturbed, Carter knuckled down to his task and produced a characteristically gritty break of 35 to halt Robertson's charge. Further breaks of 76 and 33 followed as the 2009 Welsh Open winner grew in confidence, and a fluent clearance of 81 moved the Scot back to within two frames.

Robertson engaged Carter into a prolonged safety battle in an attempt to break his rhythm and the tactic worked as Carter missed two long reds. Robertson, making the most of some time at the table, put together a considered break of 59 before taking the final frame of the session with his second century of the day.

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