Snooker: Robertson takes overnight lead

(PA)

Neil Robertson holds a slender two-frame lead over Graeme Dott ahead of the conclusion of today's World Championship final in Sheffield. The Australian trailed 5-3 after the morning session of the pair's best-of-35 frame Crucible final but the four-time ranking winner, who is gunning to become the first overseas player for 27 years to win the world title, hit back to win six of the next eight frames to give himself a welcome cushion with two sessions to play.

Robertson went ahead for the first time in the match as he won five frame in succession to pull 8-5 ahead. Breaks of 61, 90 and 79 did the bulk of the damage, before Dott eventually woke up and responded with runs of 56 and 53 to reduce his arrears to just one frame.

However it was Robertson, this season's Grand Prix champion, who won the final frame of the evening thanks to a break of 70 and has a welcome lead before this year's finale.

Robertson had earlier revealed he had been told to stay in Sheffield by his Norwegian girlfriend Mille despite the imminent birth of his first child.

"She's told me just to play and not worry about the birth too much,'' said Robertson. "Being her first time I'm told the baby will be a bit late. I haven't been thinking about it during any of my matches, but it's obviously a fantastic time for me.''