Neil Robertson Beat Pang Junxu: 2010 Champion Reaches Second Round

Australia’s Neil Robertson moved into the next stage of the Halo World Championship after defeating Pang Junxu 10-6 in their opening-round match in Sheffield on Thursday. The contest remained evenly poised midway through before Robertson pulled clear with a composed finish.

After the first session ended level, Robertson tightened control during the closing frames. His scoring improved noticeably in the latter part of the match, allowing him to secure one of the final qualification spots for the second round.

Reflecting on the performance, Robertson said: “It was nervy in the first session yesterday.” He credited his adjustment after the interval, adding: “Today I was able to dictate how the match went and from 5-5 I played really well. Pang has got one of the best safety games but tonight my long potting was good and I played some aggressive safety to open the balls up.”

Focus Shifts to Next-Round Challenge

The former world champion, who lifted the title in 2010, has not reached the semi-finals at the Crucible since 2014. He will now face Chris Wakelin in the next round, revisiting a fixture from last year where Robertson was eliminated.

Allen Leads Tight Contest with Wilson

In another match, Mark Allen holds a 5-3 advantage over Kyren Wilson heading into the next session. Allen established early control by taking the opening five frames, but Wilson reduced the deficit with three consecutive wins before the break.

The match remains open, with both players still in contention for a place in the quarter-finals.