China Open: Big names cruise through to semi-finals
Neil Robertson and Luca Brecel set-up a mouthwatering semi-final with straightforward victories at the China Open on Friday.
Seeking to win the event for a second time, Robertson powered to a 6-0 victory over Sam Craigie, completing the win with a brilliant century which was sealed with a length-of-the-table double.
That's back-to-back whitewashes for the Australian, who has won 24 frames for the loss of just five this week and looks every inch a potential Crucible contender.
Should he go on to win, though, Robertson will be keen to avoid a repeat of 2013, when having taken the title in China he suffered a first-round exit in Sheffield.
For now focus will be on a clash with Brecel, who thrashed Alan McManus 6-1 to keep up an equally impressive run of form.
The Bullet has given up just six frames on his way to the last four to make his first ranking semi-final since 2017. On that occasion, he went on to win the title and Robertson faces a stern test on Saturday.
Elsewhere...
Jack Lisowski will play Scotland's Scott Donaldson in the other semi-final after holding on to beat Stuart Bingham 6-5.
Bingham, who recorded a maximum 147 break in the second round, fought back from 3-0 and 5-3 down to force a deciding frame, but Lisowski clinched victory with a clearance of 52 to take the match on the final black.
Donaldson secured his place in the last four with a 6-4 win over Ben Woollaston.
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