World Championship 2012 (Day 2) - Robertson and Hendry in the Last 16

Robbo had no difficulty to reach the Last 16

The last two matches of the day ended on the same result, 10-4, the winners being two former world champions, Neil Robertson and Stephen Hendry. Both of them had a terrific first session taking valuable leads against their opponents, so this evening they just needed to wrap things up so they could land in the next round.

Neil Robertson had to face legend Ken Doherty, a player that has been estranged from the Crucible (as a player) for quite some time. No wonder that when he first entered the arena he kissed the red carpet. 

The match seemed to get on a pretty balanced way with the lads sharing the first two frames, but when the first session ended on a 7-2 result in favour of Robertson, things were pretty clear.

Kenny kissing the red carpet

This evening session saw a pretty determined-to-come-back Doherty just a top break of 39 bringing him the first frame, while his opponent was restoring the difference after hitting a 66 one.

Still, "The Darling of Dublin" didn't give up the fight and tried to force his way back into the game with a 56, to which Robertson replayed with a 72 to turn the scoreline into 9-4.

The next frame was also entering the Australian’s pocket, Doherty's Crucible dream being crushed yet one more time.

The way Stephen Hendry played his first session against Stuart Bingham was amazing. Pure class from a revived genius that finished his first snooker encounter with the Australian Goldfield Open champion on an 8-1 scoreline.

Hendry wins his first match

However, what happened tonight wasn't anything like yesterday, Hendry's form not being the one he showed to have the day before.

Bingham saw in this the perfect chance to get three frames on board with breaks of 55, 53 and 36, but the Scotsman didn't put himself into all that trouble to just give in now.

So he closed with a series of 35, 24 and 96 in order to book himself a place in the Last 16, where he's meeting the defending champion John Higgins for the first time at the Crucible.

Tomorrow's match schedule:

10am

2.30pm

7pm
*denotes the final session

TV coverage: