2016 World Snooker Championship day four: Robertson and Allen start Crucible campaigns

Australia’s 2010 world champion Robertson takes to the Crucible baize against a man he has not lost to in 16 years, having beaten Holt in six successive competitive meetings since their maiden match-up back in 2000.

The career Triple Crown winner has won by three or more frames in five of those previous six victories and is 17/2 to earn a 10-7 triumph in his event opener against the Nottingham potter.

Holt made it to the third round of the UK Championship this season, though that was his best performance in a ranking event so far, and the Hitman enters this year’s showcase tournament at 5/1 to topple the Thunder from Down Under.

Robertson secured success in both the Champion of Champions and UK earlier this season and will be aiming to add a second world title to those victories, as the Melbourne break builder takes to his opener at 6/4 to lead 3-1 after the first four frames against Holt.

Allen the Mann to reign supreme?

With a host of top seeded names having already exited at the first hurdle, world number 12 Allen will seek to avoid suffering a similar fate, as he contests Crucible newcomer Mann, who secured a recent China Open victory over the Northern Irishman.

The three-time ranking event winner endured a 6-2 loss at the hands of Mann in their first ever competitive meeting in February, though he is 5/2 to take a 5-3 lead after the opening eight frames this time out.

Allen is the massive odds-on 1/10 favourite in his opening encounter, but 24-year-old Birmingham potter Mann is 25/1 to take his Sheffield debut the distance by securing a 10-9, deciding frame success.

Although, consistent cueist Allen comes into his 10th career Crucible campaign on the back of a Players Championship Grand Final success, taking his ranking event tally to three after former World Grand Prix wins, and will be confident of progressing here.

Hawkins looks to topple threat of Anda

Kent cueist Hawkins has enjoyed a truly impressive run at the Crucible in recent years, having reached two consecutive semi-finals since his final defeat to Ronnie O’Sullivan in 2013, and he is odds-on 1/5 to overcome Chinese cueist Anda in his 2016 opener.

The two-time ranking event victor holds two victories over his 24-year-old opponent, as he dispatched Anda in both the 2013 UK Championship and Welsh Open, and the Hawk is 13/2 to soar to a 10-5 winning margin over Mighty Mouse.

Although, the talented Chinese prospect Anda is making his third Crucible appearance, six years after debuting in Sheffield at just 18, when he took seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry to a final frame shootout. Following previous glimpses of his astute ability, Anda is 7/2 to hand Hawkins a shock defeat.

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Coral’s top tip: Back Chinese cueist Zhang Anda to overcome Barry Hawkins at 7/2.