Dott closes in on China Open triumph

World champion Graeme Dott leads young gun Jamie Cope 6-2 in this year’s Honghe Industrial China Open final.

Last year’s Crucible king pocketed breaks of 72, 60, 70 and 95 to earn himself a healthy four-frame advantage ahead of tonight’s final session at the Beijing University Gymnasium.

Having taken the first frame on points 71-46, Dott saw Stoke’s Cope level matters with a composed 65 break.

The Scot edged ahead by winning the third frame, also on points 80-16, but the 21-year-old Grand Prix runner-up drew level again thanks to an excellent 97 break.

Dott won the fifth frame with breaks of 72 and 60, but Cope should have levelled the match at 3-3. However, he missed a pot on a red ball into a corner pocket and new provisional world No 1 Dott won it on points 67-36.

And it got better for the 29-year-old as he won the next two frames, compiling breaks of 70 and 95 to leave himself needing three frames for victory when the pair resumed.