Wakelin withstands Robertson fightback to claim first Crucible win

Jonathan Davies in World Snooker Championship 21 April 2025

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Robertson bowed out in round one on Sunday (Cody Froggatt/Sportimage Credit: Sportimage Ltd/Alamy Live News)

Neil Robertson was the latest big name to fall in the World Championship first round, losing 10-8 to Chris Wakelin despite a fierce comeback.

The 2010 World champion was marking his return to The Crucible this year, having failed to qualify 12 months ago for the first time since 2004.

However, Robertson knew he would have his work cut out on Sunday, as he entered the second session of his clash with Wakelin trailing 7-2 from Saturday’s first nine frames.

Nevertheless, the Thunder hit the ground running upon the resumption with a break of 117 on the way to winning the first five frames and levelling the contest at 7-7.

Wakelin, who had failed to win a match on each of his three previous Crucible appearances, stopped the rot with a timely 90 to edge his nose back in front.

Robertson levelled once more, though, and threatened to overturn a 74-8 deficit with five reds remaining in the 17th frame.

However, he missed the final red when trying to obtain position on the black, and fell 9-8 behind, before a run of 40 in the next frame helped Wakelin get over the line.

And this season’s International Championship finalist was pleased to bury the ghost of his 2018 debut against Judd Trump, when he recovered from 7-3 down, only to lose in a deciding frame.

“I just had shades of seven years ago going through my head when he won those first five frames,” he told BBC Sport. “I must’ve had five or six chances in that last frame, but I just fell over the line in the end.

“My mindset is so much stronger now. Regardless of what’s happening, I’m just ready for my next chance. It fell to pieces in the last frame but, so long as I’m psychologically ready, that’s the best I can do for myself.

“I started with a century [on Saturday], which set the tone. Neil did the same today, and he got on a roll from there.

“You’re playing against one of the best players of all time. A 7-2 lead is no guarantee at all. I told my friends I could lose the first four frames without doing a great deal wrong, and that’s pretty much what happened.

“The only way I was ever going to win my first match at the Crucible was to fall over the line, I finally did it in the end.”

Robertson added: “It was a huge ask after yesterday. It was a pretty cruel run of the ball yesterday. I didn’t do a lot wrong, I only missed one ball that I should’ve potted, so 7-2 was a really unfair reflection. But the way I played in the session still gave me a lot of hope today.

“I knew if I could come out strong and maybe win three of the first four frames, that would be pretty good to take it into the interval.

“To win the first four was fantastic, then the interval came. I just didn’t quite get that momentum going again. I still played some decent stuff. If I’d got to nine [frames] before him, I certainly think I’d have won.

“But fair play to Chris, he potted some good balls under pressure. I’ve got nothing but full praise for him, and I wish him all the best.”

Barry Hawkins was the other seed to bow out on day two in Sheffield; the 2013 finalist losing 10-9 to Hossein Vafaei.

The Iranian, who had qualified for the Crucible for a fourth successive year, trailed 5-4 overnight and, despite back-to-back centuries of 104 and 107, found himself 8-6 adrift.

Vafaei drew level with a 110, but could not edge his nose in front as Hawkins – this season’s UK Championship and German Masters finalist – moved to the brink of victory with 106.

Nevertheless, the former Shoot Out champion dug deep to force a decider and, despite having not led once throughout the contest, managed to do so right at the death with a 73 getting him over the line.

Next up for him will be a showdown with Mark Williams, who won the last three frames from 8-7 down to deny Wu Yize.

The three-time World champion led 5-4 overnight but, despite breaks of 101 and 69, went a frame down with four to play against this season’s English and Scottish Open finalist.

Nevertheless, Williams snatched frame 16 on the black with a 32 clearance, before runs of 58 and 75 booked his place in round two.

He will be joined by Xiao Guodong, after the reigning Wuhan Open champion rounded off a 10-4 win over Matthew Selt.

The latter, trailing 7-2 overnight, won the first two frames of their second session, but it proved a false dawn, with Xiao taking the next three to seal his first win at The Crucible since 2017.

Elsewhere, Mark Allen recovered from a slow start to establish a narrow 5-4 overnight lead against Fan Zhengyi.

The former European Masters champion was quick of the blocks with breaks of 61, 98 and 103 for a 3-0 lead. However, the Pistol fired back with 105, 62, 59 and 89 as he won five of the next six frames.

Meanwhile, Zhao Xintong hit the ground running on his Crucible return, as he took a 7-2 lead against 2024 finalist Jak Jones.

Jones was runner-up to Kyren Wilson 12 months ago, but has his work cut out this time around, despite contributions of 99 and 70.

In general, he simply had no answer to a relentless Zhao, who won four qualifying matches to return to the iconic venue for the first time since 2022.

The Cyclone hit breaks of 84, 91, 142, 70, 76 and 61 during an inspired opening session.

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