Kyren Wilson closes in on World Snooker Championship quarter-finals as O’Sullivan level with Ding

Kyren Wilson moved to the brink of the World Snooker Championship quarter-finals after establishing a commanding 11-5 overnight lead against Martin Gould on a day of drama and controversy at the Crucible.

World number eight Wilson was kick-starting his campaign in Sheffield after the withdrawal of first-round opponent Anthony Hamilton gave him a bye into the last 16.

However, the Warrior showed little signs of rustiness while his freshness was evident as he moved to within two frames of a fifth consecutive appearance in the quarter-finals of snooker’s blue-riband event.

A Crucible semi-finalist in 2018, Wilson made a strong start with runs of 52 and 113 on the way to opening up a 3-0 lead.

But world number 60 Gould, who produced four centuries in his impressive first-round victory over Stephen Maguire responded with a terrific break of 129 to stop the rot.

Wilson regained control by winning two of the next three frames but missed the opportunity to establish a 6-2 advantage as despite leading 54-0 in the eighth, Gould countered with 70 to close the gap.

Nevertheless, the 28-year-old restored his authority during the evening session; reeling off the first five frames with a top break of 109 along the way.

His opponent averted a defeat with a session to spare as he won back-to-back frames with neat clearances of 40 and 61, but the three-time ranking event winner took the last of the session to move to within two of a last-eight showdown with defending champion Judd Trump.

Jamie Clarke also holds an overnight lead, albeit a slender one at 8-7 following his controversial second session with Anthony McGill.

A huge flashpoint occurred in frame 10 when, trailing 7-2, Scotsman McGill complained to referee Jan Verhaas of his opponent allegedly standing in his eye line while down on the shot.

The experienced Dutch official was forced to intervene as the tension between the players threatened to boil over with the dispute appearing to continue backstage after Welshman Clarke went 8-2 up on the black.

Although the world number 89, who was involved in a similar incident against Joe Perry during the qualifying rounds, was unable to build on his momentum as he lost each of the next five frames to see his lead cut to just one.

There was also drama before a ball had even been potted in the battle of left-handers Neil Robertson and Barry Hawkins, which is locked at eight frames apiece.

Upon their introductions into the arena, the Australian accidentally knocked over his coffee while placing his ice bucket behind the seat, resulting in an impromptu change of outfit before the game commenced.

The first four frames were shared once the action got underway, before world number two Robertson won three of the next four – hitting a top break of 105 along the way – lead 5-3 at the end of the morning session.

The 2010 World champion opened the evening by producing a stunning 132 clearance to go 6-3 up, but a missed brown in the next frame was ruthlessly pounced upon by Hawkins, who made 95 before winning the following three to lead for the first time at 7-6.

Runner-up at the Crucible in 2013 and a four-time semi-finalist since, the Hawk had the chance to double his lead in the next, but a missed red to the left centre saw Robertson clear and stop the rot.

The Australian moved back in front with a run of 69, but another missed red to the left centre proved costly as Hawkins stepped in with a wonderful 117 clearance to level once more.

There is also nothing to separate Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ding Junhui heading into their final session.

Level at 4-4 from Friday, the first two frames of the second session were shared before Ding produced back-to-back centuries of 118 and 101 to move 7-5 ahead.

The Rocket came out firing after the interval, reeling off three consecutive frames with breaks of 90, 89 and 73 along the way.

But 2016 finalist Ding rallied in the final frame with 57 to set up a grandstand finish on Sunday.

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World Snooker Championship 2020 Scores

Saturday August 8

Second Round

Kyren Wilson 11-5 Martin Gould (Resumes Sunday)
Neil Robertson 8-8 Barry Hawkins (Resumes Sunday)
Anthony McGill 7-8 Jamie Clarke (Resumes Sunday)
Ding Junhui 8-8 Ronnie O’Sullivan (Resumes Sunday)

Tensions running high at The Crucible between Anthony McGill and Jamie Clarke…

Big Jan steps in ?pic.twitter.com/ntTPaHwrw2

— Live Snooker (@Livesnooker) August 8, 2020