| Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Dates: 16 April-2 May |
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Neil Robertson’s superb maximum break could not prevent him from losing in a dramatic final-frame decider to Jack Lisowski in the second round of the World Championship.
The Australian punched the air in delight after compiling only the 12th-ever 147 at the Crucible on his way to taking an 11-10 lead.
However, Lisowski made breaks of 88 and 72 before sealing a 13-12 victory.
Judd Trump also advanced after holding off Anthony McGill to win 13-11.
Both players briefly paused their match to congratulate the 2010 world champion Robertson after his wonderful maximum break.
Robertson, who arrived in Sheffield as the pre-tournament favourite, has the consolation of sharing the £15,000 break prize with Graeme Dott, who scored a 147 in qualifying.
In addition, he will collect £40,000 for achieving the fifth maximum of his professional career in the tournament’s final stages.
“If I only win it once, I’ve had an unbelievable career – I’ve achieved everything I could ever dream of 100 times over,” Robertson said.
“The season I’ve had has been the season of absolute dreams. If I’d gone on to win here, it would probably have been the greatest season anyone has had in the sport.
“I had a magical moment to go 10-9 with the 147. It was really unbelievable and it tops the season off because it is on everyone’s bucket list to make a 147 at the Crucible.
“Jack played the match of his life. It was an incredible match and it was played in the right way. I’ve got nothing but praise for Jack because he just handled himself really well.”
Lisowski had begun the session by extending his overnight lead to 10-7 after enjoying the better of a scrappy opening frame.
But Robertson’s response was immediate, knocking in his first 147 since the 2019 Welsh Open and making two half-centuries as he won four successive frames to edge ahead.
A tense conclusion saw Lisowski come from behind and hold his nerve under pressure in a final frame that both players had opportunities to win.
“Beating the best player in the world at the moment, who is playing some of the greatest snooker we have seen, feels like a massive achievement,” Lisowski said.
“I knew it was going to be a close game and I felt it would go to a decider and I was ready for that. One minute I looked like I was going 11-7 up; the next minute, he’s made a maximum and it is 10-10 and my head is spinning.
“I was just throwing everything I had at him and managed to pip him at the end.”
Trump holds McGill at bay
Trump, who won the world title in 2019, saw Scotland’s McGill make two half-centuries and a superb break of 124 to reduce his 10-6 overnight deficit to just one frame at 11-10.
And with McGill playing a string of sensational shots during his fightback, the momentum seemed to have swung in his favor.
However, a composed 56 from the Englishman prevented the 2020 semi-finalist from drawing level and he sealed his win with a long double on the blue into the bottom right corner.
Stuart Bingham, the 2015 champion, now awaits Trump, who has reached the last eight on his past five appearances at the Crucible.
“If it had been remotely closed [at the start]I have [McGill] would have brushed me aside,” Trump said.
“I was praying it was not going to go to decide. I heard that Jack [Lisowski] had made a good clearance and that noise kind of spurred me on.
“It was one of the best sessions I have been involved in.”
Asked about his close friend Lisowski, Trump suggested it was the biggest victory in his career, adding, “I am over the moon for Jack.
“I wasn’t sure he believed in himself enough to win that game, but that is a huge, huge win for him and especially to do it in the way he did.”
‘Robertson’s 147 never looked in doubt’ – analysis
Six-time world champion Steve Davis on BBC Four
“It never looked in doubt. Neil Robertson could hear the commentary as he was doing it and he still made it. It was a superb 147 break.
“There were no reds on the cushion but he struck the ball so confidently and well he was always in position.”
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Reference-www.bbc.co.uk