Neil Robertson completes record-equalling round two schedule at 2026 World Snooker Championship

Robertson - who was the winner of snooker’s blue riband event in 2010 - completes the last 16 line-up in Sheffield, as he sets up a date with number 13 seed Chris Wakelin, the player who eliminated him from this tournament last year.

The opening four frames of the match were shared. WST Classic runner-up Pang - appearing in the main draw for a fourth consecutive year - took the lead for the first time at 3-2, although reigning Saudi Arabia Masters champion Robertson strung together three frames to guarantee himself an overnight lead.

That first session advantage wasn’t much, though, as China's Pang produced a break of 122 to cut the gap to just one at 5-4.

On resumption Thursday night, Pang levelled the scores and it was looking like a tight finish could be in prospect, but Australia's Robertson - the most successful non-British player of all-time - went on a four-frame winning streak with runs of 77, 80 and 54 to move to the hill at 9-6 up.

Pang prolonged proceedings with a 73 in frame 15, but 44-year-old Robertson wrapped up the contest in style with an effort of 100 to reach the last 16 of the World Snooker Championship for the 15th time in his career, although for the first time since 2023.

World number three Robertson’s advancement means that 15 of the top 16 seeds navigated their opening assignments, with only number 15 seed Si Jiahui not doing so.

This is a record-equalling effort from the seeded players, matching the achievements of those in 1983 and 1993 when Jimmy White and Alain Robidoux, respectively, were the cueists who exited the party early.

For a player of such class and a bulging career CV, Robertson’s world championship record since his finest day in the sport 16 years ago is a perplexing one. He has made the one-table set-up only once in that time - a semi-final finish in 2014.

Robertson could finish this season as the world number one if he wins the title in South Yorkshire and Judd Trump loses his round two encounter with Hossein Vafaei. Iran’s number one player Vafaei strung together nine consecutive frames earlier today in defeating Si, 10-3.

Elsewhere on Thursday at the Crucible, round two began with Shaun Murphy establishing a 6-2 lead against Xiao Guodong, and Mark Allen going overnight with a 5-3 advantage on Kyren Wilson, although Wilson did take the final three frames of the opening session from 5-0 down.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 World Snooker Championship, visit our tournament information centre here.