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Neil Robertson was in red hot form as he launched his UK Championship bid with three total clearances of 135, 130 and 135 in a 6-1 demolition of Chris Wakelin.
Australia's Neil Robertson made superb progress in his quest to win the UK Championships for the third time, recording three total clearances of 130 and above as he brushed aside the challenge of England's Chris Wakelin in Milton Keynes.
The Melbourne left-hander, who's been in superb form during the COVID-hit season, was so impressive that the watching world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan was moved to say: "He looks like he's going to be hard to stop."
Former world champ Robertson, who won the UK crown in 2013 and 2015, raced to a 6-1 victory over Wakelin, a 28-year-old journeyman from Rugby.
The result never seemed in doubt from the opening frame when the 38-year-old produced a total clearance of 135 and then followed up in the very next frame with another, this time amassing a 130.
He won a much-harder third frame only on the final black but it took an amazing shot to clinch it, with Robertson playing a full length-of-the-table double which he insisted was not a fluke.
He then got back to his heavy scoring, taking a 4-0 interval lead, extraordinarily with another 135.
Wakelin finally got on the board straight after the interval but Robertson then compiled further fine breaks of 89 and 72 to seal a place in the last-32 against China's Li Hang, who beat Zhao Xintong 6-3.
O'Sullivan, commentating for Eurosport, said of 'The Thunder's' performance: "I think Neil will be disappointed he hasn't lifted a trophy this year. He's been playing fantastic snooker. He'll think it's a matter of time before he gets one on the board."
For his part, the Australian sounded confident that he's in the sort of form to break his season's duck and, talking of his heavy scoring, admitted: "I enjoy burying opponents."
The shock of the day was defending champion Ding Junhui's second round 6-5 defeat by England's David Grace.
Ding had been 5-3 ahead but lost a safety battle in the ninth frame and then saw Grace fluke a red before going on to win the next.
Last year's beaten finalist Stephen Maguire beat Stuart Carrington 6-4, while Jimmy White's romantic run came to an end with a 6-1 defeat by Zhou Yuelong.
