NEIL Robertson outplayed a weary Ali Carter in the first session of their marathon last-four showdown as he began his quest to give Australia their first ever Crucible finalist.

The 28-year-old opened up a 6-2 lead over Essex cueman Carter in their Betfred.com World Championship semifinal, having had the benefit of an early-afternoon finish to his previous match.

By contrast Carter had a late night, taking out Shaun Murphy in a final-frame quarter-final decider, and then found it difficult to settle down and sleep.

When he arrived in the theatre for his 2pm start the 30- year-old’s start was sluggish.

So sluggish in fact that he lost the opening five frames.

Carter has dismissed his chances of winning the world title but that has been part of an exercise in self-kidology.

Working with a sports psychologist has adopted the policy of flatly refusing to look beyond his next match.

‘‘I’ve no hope of winning.

It’s wanting to win that sometimes makes you lose,’’ he said.

‘‘I’ve lost myself too many tournaments before through wanting it too badly. It stops you getting it which is a funny thing, and it’s only when you get a bit older that you realise you have to let things come at their own pace.”