Friday, 26 April 2019:

Australia's world No.4 Neil Robertson has an early lead in his last-16 tie at the snooker World Championships.

Robertson was ahead 5-3 against fellow former world champion Shaun Murphy after he first session at the famous Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

Murphy failed to pot a ball in the first three frames but fought back to win two of the last three frames and could have compiled a maximum break in the last frame of the session.

After potting 13 reds and 13 blacks, Murphy even paused to ask for the screen separating the tables to be lifted but went on to miss a tough final red into the middle pocket.

Robertson had earlier compiled breaks of 106, 79, 57 and 127 in a high-quality encounter between two players who had lost just one frame between them in the first round.

The 37-year-old from Melbourne won the 2010 world championship.

AAP