Fu clash tensely poised

Marco Fu was involved in a tense tussle with qualifier Martin Gould as their first-round clash at the Betfred.com World Championship neared its conclusion.

Gould had won the final two frames of yesterday’s session to close the gap from 5-2 to 5-4, and when he levelled at 5-5 this morning the momentum was with him.

Gould, a 28-year-old former casino croupier, had beaten former finalist Nigel Bond to reach the Crucible and was determined not to make a tame exit.

The quality remained patchy but after Fu edged ahead once more there was a strong response from Londoner Gould, who made a break of 66 to draw level at 6-6.

Hong Kong cueman Fu, 32, pinched another tight frame to move 7-6 in front at the mid-session interval.

On the other table, Welshman Mark Williams was struggling to reproduce the form which brought him the China Open title earlier this month.

The two-time former world champion has been strongly backed to complete a hat-trick this year, but was not showing the form to justify that support in the early stages of his match against the bearded Scot Marcus Campbell.

Campbell, 37, was making his second Crucible appearance nine years after losing in the first round to Anthony Hamilton, and he inched ahead by taking the opening frame.

But 35-year-old Williams, playing well beneath his usual standard, fought back by winning the next two to hit the front.

Campbell looked to be feeling the pressure as he twice miscued, a rare sight in the professional game.