O'Sullivan gains edge over Dott
Thursday, 27 April 2006 22:59World number one Ronnie O'Sullivan grabbed a 5-3 lead over Graeme Dott, while Peter Ebdon was locked at 4-4 with Marco Fu after the opening sessions of the world championship semi-finals.
Dott, who lost to O'Sullivan in the 2004 final, compiled a century break in the first frame.
O'Sullivan, however, gained the psychological edge when he took four of the following five frames with breaks of 61, 66 and 63 to move into a 5-2 lead.
A run of 70 from Dott in the final frame cut O'Sullivan's advantage to two frames.
Hong Kong's Fu, who is only the second Asian player after Thailand's James Wattana to reach the last four at The Crucible, won the first frame in his match against former champion Ebdon with a break of 81.
Ebdon edged ahead at 3-2 before Fu clinched a 52-minute sixth frame. Ebdon won a scrappy seventh only for Fu to claim the final frame of the session.
The semi-finals are the best-of-33-frames.
