Ronnie O'Sullivan managed to extend his lead to 11-5 after the second session of his World Championship final with Ali Carter at the Crucible.

Once again O'Sullivan wasn't quite motoring at his best, but he still did enough to edge the session 5-3 and move ever closer to his third world title.

A break of 106 in the final frame of the session proved to be O'Sullivan's first century of the match, but it was the proceeding frame that could ultimately prove to be the one that ruined Carter's chance of an upset.

A break of 57 had put O'Sullivan in charge of that frame but then he lost position and Carter got in for what looked destined to be a frame winning break.

However, the first time finalist put too much emphasis on getting position on the final red off a yellow - and he ended up missing the pot; O'Sullivan would then eventually go on and take the frame.

O'Sullivan actually won the last three frames of the session which stopped a run from Carter that looked like it was going to get him back into the match.

After O'Sullivan won the evening's first frame, Carter took three of the next four.

The last of those made it 8-5, and it was that frame in particular, that made you feel that it could be Carter's evening, as he had a clearance of 80 after O'Sullivan saw a cruel kick end a break while 45-0 in front.

However, Carter couldn't build on from that, and he now has it all to do if he is to get back into the match.

FIRST SESSION REPORT

Ronnie O'Sullivan has taken early control of the World Championship final by building a 6-2 lead over Ali Carter after the opening session at the Crucible.

In a scrappy session neither player looked to be firing on all cylinders but a strong start allowed O'Sullivan to take the initiative.

"The Rocket" came back from 56-9 in the opening frame to take first blood, and then looked as if he was well on course to replicating the wondrous form he showed in the semi-finals by producing back-to-back breaks of 88 and 99 to move 3-0 in front.

However, Carter stopped him in his tracks with a break of 104 just before the mid-session interval, but when they returned, O'Sullivan quickly restored his three frame advantage with a 74 break.

Then the match entered its messy stage with both players struggling to get anything going.

Carter stumbled over the line to make it 4-2 despite needing numerous chances to close out the frame, but he couldn't get anything going in the next two frames which allowed O'Sullivan to move 6-2 in front, even though the cue action of the two-time champion was also looking somewhat off.

A tired Carter will now need to pick himself up for the evening session if he is to keep the deficit at a manageable level going into tomorrow.

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Sean Fay / Eurosport