McManus - slowly established a lead (Getty Images).
McMANUS CRAWLS INTO LEAD
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Alan McManus held the edge in a Crucible go-slow as he carved out a 5-1 lead
over former runner-up Nigel Bond.
McManus, a semi-finalist in 1992 and 1993, pinched three frames on the black
during a marathon session in which the average frame time was 30 minutes.
It was so slow that the three remaining scheduled frames could not be
completed, leaving a possible 13 frames for the final session.
McManus, the world number 15 from Glasgow, captured the first frame by potting
a brown which jumped out of a corner pocket, rolled along the top of the side
cushion and dropped into the centre.
Bond, who lost to Stephen Hendry in the 1995 final, won the second frame but
could not find any sort of rhythm.
McManus laboured on with a highest break of only 47 and needs five more
frames for victory.
The winner faces 2001 champion Ronnie O'Sullivan or Marco Fu in the last 16.
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