STEPHEN HENDRY IS on the verge of a place in the last eight of the World Snooker Championships, having established a 12-4 lead over John Higgins at the Crucible this evening.

Meanwhile, former world champion Neil Robertson beat David Gilbert 13-9 to book his place in the quarter-finals.

Elsewhere, Stephen Maguire looks likely to join Robertson in the last eight, as he currently leads Joe Perry 11-5.

And in the day’s other encounter, Ryan Day of Wales gained a 6-2 lead over China’s Cao Yupeng.

Results/Scores:

Best of 25 frames

1900:

Neil Robertson (Aus) 13-9 David Gilbert (Eng)

40-92 (53), 76-0 (76), 0-76 (76), 17-75, 96-5 (84), 109-0 (109), 75-47 (57), 131-0 (131), 96-1, 5-75, 0-118 (75), 76-35 (76), 77-0 (77), 94-1 (82), 92-18 (92), 42-71, 98-6, 36-74 (69), 0-121 (121), 107-16 (60), 5-77 (67), 108-0

John Higgins (Sco) 4-12 Stephen Hendry (Sco)

86-16, 86-12 (52), 0-101 (81) 31-102 (69), 124-9 (124), 5-93 (93), 0-123 (123), 7-67 (67), 64-76, 16-65 (51), 57-54, 99-0, 48-62, 8-58, 55-72 (66), 1-83 (83),

Stephen Maguire (Sco) 11-5 Joe Perry (Eng)

0-116 (115), 109-15 (101), 101-13 (101), 78-23 (52), 104-0 (65), 27-68 (68), 88-30 (88), 4-82 (82) 81-23, 67-57 (57 Perry), 17-57, 95-0 (91), 80-52 (80,52), 82-29, 8-117 (103), 86-31 (75).

Resumes Saturday at 1000.

Ryan Day (Wal) 6-2 Cao Yupeng (Chn)

58-54 (53 Day), 73-58, 91-10 (87), 41-92, 69-7 (62), 54-104, 63-25, 70-18.

Resumes Saturday at 1000.

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