Neil Robertson leads John Higgins 5-3 after the first session of the BetVictor English Open final in Milton Keynes.
Australia’s 2010 World Champion Robertson was runner-up in this event last year, losing the final 9-8 against Judd Trump. He will be hoping to go one better this time around and secure career ranking title number 21.
Scotland’s four time World Champion Higgins lost 9-8 to Mark Allen in the recent BetVictor Northern Ireland Open final and is seeking a 32nd ranking crown this evening.
They will return this evening at 7pm to play this best of 17 frame encounter to a conclusion, with the first to nine frames picking up the Steve Davis Trophy and the £70,000 top prize.
Robertson started fastest this afternoon, taking the opening two frames to establish an early 2-0 lead. However, Higgins showed his steel by composing a break of 90 to take the third, before edging a tight fourth to make it 2-2 at the mid-session.
When play resumed Robertson re-asserted his authority immediately with a contribution of 140. He then won a 38-minute sixth frame to open up a two frame gap at 4-2. Higgins pulled within one, but Robertson fired in a 123 to take the final frame of the session and end two in front.