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Page last updated at 16:13 GMT, Saturday, 18 September 2010 17:13 UK

Neil Robertson beats Graeme Dott at World Open

World Open
Venue: SECC, Glasgow Dates: 18-26 September
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, Red Button and BBC Sport website (UK only); Listen on BBC Radio 5 live for regular updates; Comprehensive reports on the BBC Sport website & mobiles


Neil Robertson
Robertson won last year's now-defunct Grand Prix in Glasgow

World champion Neil Robertson overcame his Crucible final opponent Graeme Dott once again with a 3-1 victory in the third round of Glasgow's World Open.

Scotland's Dott avoided a whitewash in frame three but Australian Robertson wrapped up the win with a break of 103.

Robertson, who beat Dott 18-13 in Sheffield, will learn his last 32 opponent after Sunday's random draw.

Peter Ebdon proved too strong for six-time world champion Steve Davis, also advancing 3-1.

"It was strange to play a best-of-five," said Robertson, who won last year's now-defunct Grand Prix in Glasgow.

I don't think I've ever won a best-of-five match - if every tournament was like this I'd be outside the top 32

Graeme Dott

"One kick or a fluke could win or lose you the match. When Graeme got back to 2-1, anything could have happened, but I was really happy with the century in the next frame."

Dott said: "The frame I won to go 2-1 could have been a turning point, but I missed a long red at the start of the next frame and left the balls everywhere.

"I decided before the match to go for everything. It's the toss of a coin in such a short match.

"I don't think I've ever won a best-of-five match - if every tournament was like this I'd be outside the top 32," added the world number 10."

Ebdon raced into a 2-0 lead against veteran Davis. The 'Nugget' pulled a frame back but the 2002 world champion racked up a break of 94 to finish in style.

Afterwards, world number 17 Ebdon targeted a return to the sport's top 16.

"It's time to re-focus and re-group now and I do have new impetus and motivation, not only to get into the top 16 but to be a serious competitor for the big titles."

World number two Ali Carter also went through, overcoming Thai amateur Thepchaiya Un-Noo 3-1.

Carter's victory at the first ranking tournament of the season, last week's Shanghai Masters, has given him a shot at displacing John Higgins - suspended until November - as the world's top-ranked player.

He was lucky, though, to get past his Thai opponent, one of 21 players to come through two qualifying rounds.

At 2-1, Un-Nooh was among the balls but his potting let him down and Englishman Carter prevailed.

"He should have beaten me," admitted Carter. "His inexperience told in the end as I was able to tie him up with safety."

Home favourite Stephen Maguire was let off the hook by England's Stuart Pettman.

Pettman led 48-1 in the deciding frame but a miscue let Maguire in and he clawed his way back to take the frame and progress.

"I should never have won," said Maguire. "It was a good game up until 2-2 then in the last frame there was a lot of tension."

In the final encounter of the day, Dave Harold defied his lowly 44th-place ranking to upset world number five Shaun Murphy 3-0.

"I felt comfortable and put him under pressure," said Harold. "I think the lower ranked players have got a great chance in this tournament."



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see also
World Open scores, results and draw
25 Sep 10 |  Snooker
Robertson eyes World Open revival
16 Sep 10 |  Snooker
Neil Robertson Q&A
17 Sep 10 |  Snooker
New snooker format excites White
16 Sep 10 |  Snooker
Carter triumphs in Shanghai final
12 Sep 10 |  Snooker
Selby excited by new-look format
02 Sep 10 |  Snooker
White reaches revamped World Open
26 Aug 10 |  Snooker
Robertson beats Dott to win title
04 May 10 |  Snooker
Rampant Robertson sees off Ding
11 Oct 09 |  Snooker


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