Top Stories Punjab dominate jr snooker event Sohail, Ahsan crash out of Sindh Cup Seeds fall in Sindh Cup Security concerns : Pakistan will not host Asian U-21 Snooker Championship Khurram, Sohail cruise into third round Asif, Sajjad continue winning streak at World Snooker Farhat makes third round in snooker event Snooker event begins on Thursday Pakistan’s participation in snooker event in doubt PBSA chief eyes `big` comeback

SHEFFIELD : Australian cuesman Neil Robertson hopes of beating two-time world champion Ronnie 'Rocket' O'Sullivan for the third time this season evaporated on Monday as he lost 13-10 in their world championship second round clash.

Robertson - the only player to have won two ranking tournaments this season - had fought back brilliantly from 6-2 down to 8-8 and then 10-10 before the thrilling but enigmatic Englishman rattled off three successive frames to seal a quarter-final match with another former world champion John Higgins.

Higgins had taken just 10 minutes earlier on Monday to book his last eight place as he finished off Irishman Fergal O'Brien 13-4.

The Scotsman's compatriot and seven time champion Steven Hendry had no such fortune as his dreams of an eighth title disappeared, as he lost to Englishman Ali Carter 13-6.

Carter will meet the surprise package of the championships in the next round, compatriot and qualifier Mark Selby, who disposed of another former champion, Englishman Peter Ebdon 13-8.

Selby made five century breaks in the match including three consecutive centuries during the second session on Monday which equalled the championship record of O'Sullivan and Higgins.

O'Sullivan and Robertson fought out a great battle - the Australian making the highest break of the tournament so far with a 140.

Robertson did have the opportunity to go 11-10 ahead but a missed pink to clinch the 21st frame allowed O'Sullivan to steal it.

The missed pink was a body blow for the Australian and O'Sullivan took full advantage.

Hendry - who came into the championships using a new cue and having still to win a ranking tournament since the 2005 Malta Open - required a miracle to extricate himself from a 12-4 deficit overnight and showed some fight by taking the first two frames of the session.

However Carter ended the 38-year-old's misery by taking the third frame.

"I played well and I was really pleased with my form," Carter told BBC Sport.

"People might talk about Stephen's cue but I put him under pressure."

Higgins didn't waste any time to send O'Brien packing.

Higgins resumed with a commanding 12-4 lead after an outstanding display in the second session.

O'Brien battled gamely to close his arrears, but a misjudged safety shot let the in-form Scot back to the table and he sealed victory.