China's Pang Junxu in action during his second round match against Neil Robertson at the Snooker World Championship in the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England, April 23, 2026. (Photo: VCG)
Snooker 2010 World Champion Neil Robertson has overcome a nervy start to edge China's Pang Junxu with a 10-6 victory in a challenging opening match at Sheffield's iconic Crucible Theatre.
In a tense encounter, Pang initially seized momentum by winning the first frame of the second session, leveling the match at 5-all. However, Robertson responded with poise, executing breaks of 77, 80, and 54 to establish a commanding 9-5 lead.
Pang was not easily deterred, keeping his hopes alive with a break of 73 to make the score 9-6. Yet, Robertson showcased his prowess in the following frame, clinching the match with a stunning century break of 100—marking his 88th century at the Crucible.
The 44-year-old Australian will now prepare to face Chris Wakelin in a best-of-25 second-round clash.
In other action, Iran's Hossein Vafaei demonstrated his own mettle, winning four consecutive frames in the second session to defeat China's Si Jiahui 10-3. The 31-year-old aims to reach the quarterfinals at the Crucible for the first time, where he will face world No. 1 Judd Trump on Saturday.