Hunter - in control.
HUNTER CLOSE TO LAST EIGHT
Click here for Crucible scoreboard
Click here for latest results
Click here for order of play
Click here for more from the Crucible
Paul Hunter is within one frame of completing a comprehensive victory against his Wheels in Motion stablemate Matthew Stevens at the Crucible.
The British Open champion from Leeds must return at 6.45pm for what
could just be one final frame.
Hunter, who raced into an 8-0 lead over Ali Carter in his first match, holds a
12-4 lead over the 2000 finalist.
And had it not been for a 62 clearance by the world number eight from
Carmarthen in frame 14, then spectators for the evening session would have been left without any
competitive snooker at all.
However, fans expecting a full night's play are likely to receive some
compensation in the form of an exhibition.
Stevens came from 62-7 behind to snatch only his second frame of the morning
on the black.
It was not the prelude to a major recovery though and Hunter cantered towards
his first-ever Crucible Theatre quarter-final.
In the last two frames of the penultimate session the 24-year-old Yorkshireman
outscored his good pal 198-0 including a break of 101 in the 16th frame.
It was his second century of the match following a fourth frame effort of
110.
Hunter began the day with a 6-2 lead and extended that advantage to 9-2 before
Stevens chipped in to take frame 12.
Hunter won the 13th with a 77 clearance after being 50-0 behind and Stevens
probably realised it was not going to be his day or match.
Hunter, currently fourth favourite for the title at 7-1, requires just one of
the nine remaining frames to meet defending champion Peter Ebdon for a place in
the semi-finals.
Click here to send us your sporting feedback
