Australia's Neil Robertson kept his hopes of returning to the world number one spot alive with a 5-3 defeat of Iran's Hossein Vafaei to make the last 16 of the Wuhan Open.

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The Thunder from Down Under's last stint at the summit of the Johnstone's Paint World Rankings ended in 2015. Fast forward 11 years and he is now embroiled in a four-way fight with Zhao Xintong, Mark Selby and Judd Trump to end this week as world number one.

Trump currently occupies top spot, but alongside Selby he must win the event to remain in contention. This is due to Trump's points for winning the 2024 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters dropping off at the tournament's conclusion. Robertson knows he must better Zhao's performance in this week's event to stand a chance.

A 41-minute opener this afternoon went the way of Vafaei, before 2010 World Champion Robertson restored parity and then claimed the third with a double on the final black to lead 2-1. Vafaei showed his resolve, though, and took the fourth to head into the mid-session all square at 2-2.

When play resumed, Robertson pulled out to a 4-2 lead. Vafaei pegged one back, but it was the Melbourne cueman who got over the line to book a meeting with Welsh youngster Liam Davies.

"I don't think we've been in this position before when there is a run of a couple of events with four or five players in the hunt (for world number one). That is really exciting," said 44-year-old Robertson.

"It is really meaningful the first time that you do it. I was World Champion and world number one at the same time and that was a great feeling. It would be pretty special if I could get back there. It will be up and down, you might see three or four players jockey that position this season. It is good for the fans."

2025 World Champion Zhao continued his pursuit of top spot with a 5-2 win over Jak Jones, which ended with a century run of 121. He now faces a tough test against Barry Hawkins.

Four-time Crucible king Selby was a 5-2 winner against China's He Guoqiang. Next up for the Englishman is Pang Junxu, who beat Shaun Murphy 5-3.

Selby spent four consecutive years as world number one between 2015 and 2019 and would dearly love a return.

Selby said: "The world number one spot gives me another goal to work to apart from just the Triple Crown events. It keeps me practising and hungry to get back there. There is no better feeling than being called out as world number one. I've got a chance, but if I don't then I've managed to achieve what I've set out to do when I was a young lad just turning professional."

Seven-time World Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan's despair with his form continued, but he did score a straightforward 5-1 win over Yao Pengcheng.

Next up is a mouth-watering showdown with Stephen Maguire. The Scot ended the run of Artemijs Zizins, who beat World Champion Wu Yize yesterday, prevailing 5-4 from 4-1 down.

O’Sullivan said: “I just miss playing well. I don’t care whether it is when I’m practising or when I’m on the match table. I miss hitting the ball well. I’ve always said it. You can look back on my interviews. Since I was 17, I’ve always just wanted to hit it well. I’ll tell you if I have and if I’ve not then I’m sad I haven’t. Before I might have gone one or two months without doing it, but to go four years without hitting the ball well is far too long for any human to take, hitting poor shot after poor shot.”

Wuhan Open Day Three: Robertson Remains In World Number One Hunt