Fu wins thriller to set up clash with champion Selby

Marco Fu won a thrilling last-16 meeting with Neil Robertson to set up a Betfred World Championship quarter-final date with defending champion Mark Selby.

Fu’s 13-11 victory was full of drama as Robertson – a winner at the Crucible in 2010 – missed on the black that would have taken the contest to a deciding 25th frame.

The pair were locked at 10-10 at the interval before Robertson potted the black-ball decider in the next frame to go ahead, shouting, “Come on” and beating the table in a rare show of emotion.

Fu responded by nudging back ahead and he looked to be cruising when up 57-0 in the penultimate frame but a kick on a routine red handed the initiative back to Robertson, who failed to take advantage when left with a long shot on the black that he could not sink, while his opponent did.

Selby remains on course for back-to-back crowns after booking a quarter-final place with a 13-6 win over Xiao Guodong.

“I felt as though I played a really solid game and didn’t really make too many mistakes,” Selby said.

He added: “I don’t feel under pressure as much, but I suppose that goes down to the season I’ve had leading into it.”

Elsewhere, former finalist Barry Hawkins set up a last-eight meeting with Stephen Maguire by overcoming 2006 champion Graeme Dott.