Neil Robertson. Picture by Monique Limbos

NEIL Robertson was forced to wait for an historic 100th century break of the season but a flawless performance saw him reach the World Championship quarter-finals.

Robertson was at his sublime best winning all four frames of the final session as he ended Mark Allen’s Crucible campaign with a 13-9 victory

And the world number one almost become the first player to make the landmark on two occasions but agonisingly missed crucial pots when the three figure break was well in his sights. It means Robertson remains on 99 centuries going into his quarter-final tie against either Judd Trump or Ryan Day.

Robertson showed brilliant cue control throughout and hit the ball effortlessly as four breaks over 50 in less than an an hour and a half sealed victory against the Ulsterman who could nothing but watch as Robertson potted away his way to victory.

Leading 9-7 at the start of the session, Robertson extended his lead to 10-7 after winning a safety exchange battle as Allen missed a red into the middle pocket.

The Australian then extended his lead to four frames with a break of 69 before getting the Crucible crowd all on the edge of their seats as he looked set to complete the historic achievement but when on 94 the black agonisingly remained in the jaws of the pocket.

Just one frame away from victory Robertson also made amends as a run of 92 ensured victory but came  missed a tricky red along the top cushion

In this form Robertson’s 100th century is not far away and possibly his second world title could come in more than a week’s time.

Elsewhere, Dominic Dale only needed one frame to seal his first Crucible quarter-final in fourteen years as he completed a 13-4 win over Michael Wasley.

Dale will play last year’s finalist Barry Hawkins in the last eight. The result also ensured Jimmy White’s tour card for next season – a win for Wasley would have seen the Whirlwind drop out of the essential top 64 of the end-of-season money list rankings.