World Snooker Championship
Date: 18 April-4 May Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
Coverage: Live coverage each day on BBC Two, BBC Red Button and BBC Sport website (UK only), updates on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Six-time champion Steve Davis was sent crashing out of the World Snooker Championship following a 10-2 defeat by Neil Robertson.

The 51-year-old, making his 29th visit to the Crucible, was 7-2 down overnight and scored just 29 points in the second session against the Australian.

World number 10 Robertson clinched the first frame of the day before making a superb 125 break in the 11th.

He secured victory with a 52 in the 12th to set up a tie with Ali Carter.

Davis said he was "hanging on for grim death" to his playing career.

"I'm not too sure it's about bowing out in style," he said. "I think I've gone past that.

I've considered whether it would be to my benefit to draw a line, and came to the conclusion there wasn't really any point Steve Davis

"I'm going down the wall slowly with my fingernails."

He added: "I have mediocre commitment and occasionally I put in mediocre performances, but I can't complain.

"If I try to be 100% committed to the game in any way, shape or form, I'm not absolutely sure I would be anywhere near getting to any standard required to win.

"You can push back the hands of time but this is a generation of players who play a game that's very strong."

606: DEBATE I really enjoy watching Davis play but I'm sure this is his last hurrah at Sheffield diesel1984

But Davis, who will need to play one qualifying round next year in order to reach the Crucible, revealed that he was not set to quit the sport.

"I've considered whether it would be to my benefit to draw a line, and came to the conclusion there wasn't really any point," he said.

"You can't physically get hurt and it's not like you start to get injuries.

"The only injuries could be mental and as long as you can take that then why not carry on?

Robertson paid tribute to his first-round opponent.

No disrespect, he isn't the player he was Robertson on Davis

"He's got the crowd on his side," said the 27-year-old.

"Probably 20 years ago everybody hated him and wanted him to lose.

"But it is tough because, no disrespect, he isn't the player he was.

"On the other side it's absolutely unbelievable that he's still here at the age of 51. That's an incredible achievement."

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