Shanghai Masters: Neil Robertson outlasts Ding Junhui to reach quarters, Robert Milkins beats Shaun Murphy
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Updated 13/09/2023 at 16:34 GMT
World No. 6 Neil Robertson is into the last eight of the Shanghai Masters after overcoming Ding Junhui 6-5 in a nervy second-round battle. Junhui won four frames in a row after the mid-session interval to go one away from victory, but Robertson staved off his opponent's comeback to progress. The Australian will face Fang Zhengyi next for a place in the semi-finals.
Brecel makes incredible foul after missing all 10 reds - 'You couldn't make it up!'
Neil Robertson had to dig deep to stall a Ding Junhui comeback and reach the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals with a 6-5 win.
The world No. 6 held a 3-1 lead at the mid-session interval, but two-time champion Ding roared back to the table with four frames in a row to go within touching distance of a last-eight berth.
However, Robertson steadied himself and put together three consecutive frames to grind his way through a topsy-turvy battle.
The Australian will face Fang Zhengyi next for place in the semi-finals, a stage he has twice reached before.
Robertson’s season started with a disappointing first-round exit at the European Masters last month to Wu Yize, but he has shown glimpses of a return to form in Shanghai.
The former world champion took the first frame after Ding undercut a red, giving the world No. 6 a chance to finish at the table with 102.
Robertson looked in pole position to double his advantage in the second, but uncharacteristically missed an easy straight red to hand Ding a way back in. The 36-year old played it safe but managed to pot a green to make it 1-1.
Ding was unable to capitalise on the momentum heading into the third and it cost him after making several poor shots, allowing Robertson to take a 3-1 lead at the interval.
The fifth frame saw Robertson miss a long red, allowing Ding to clear the table with 117, much to the home crowd's delight.
At 3-2, he continued to find his stride, capitalising on a tough miss from Robertson, who jawed an ambitious shot from the side rail, erasing all his hard work to make it 3-3.
Ding’s post-interval comeback continued apace as he put together a run of 87 to move in front for the first time.
The home favourite then edged a nervy frame where both players were guilty of errors, making it four in a row by rolling in a red to move within one frame of the quarter-finals.
But Robertson wasn’t done yet and produced a 72 break – his best since the opening frame – to reduce the deficit.
The Australian’s fightback continued into the next frame, when he took advantage of a short Ding safety to make a 71 break and force a decider.
It got off to a cagey start until Ding potted a long red to get on the black and spot a chance, but an error with the cue ball let Robertson back in.
The world No. 6 carelessly left a green in the jaws as he looked to stroll to victory, leaving 24 on the table with a 31-point lead, but Robertson eventually claimed the final frame 80-40.
In the evening's other match, Robert Milkins saw off Shaun Murphy 6-5 in a see-saw scrap.
Milkins took the opening two frames but from there it was Murphy who found his straps, rattling in a 135 in frame five as he fought back to lead 4-2.
The Milkman then took three in a row to go 5-4 up - a run which included a supreme 120 in frame eight - and though Murphy levelled it up at 5-5, Milkins edged the last to progress.
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