Carter is beset by fatigue and falls behind

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

By contrast Carter had a late night, taking out 2005 champion Shaun Murphy in a final-frame quarter-final decider, and then found it difficult to settle down and sleep.

He eventually nodded off at around 3.30am, and when he arrived in the theatre for his 2pm cue-off against Robertson the 30-year-old's start was sluggish.

So sluggish in fact that he lost the opening five frames and from that position to finish as he did was a minor success.

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

Working with sports psychologist Steven Sylvester, Carter 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.

"When I'm lifting the trophy, that's when I'll think I can win it."

Graeme Dott and Mark Selby began their semi-final contest in the evening.

Dott has performed heroically in Sheffield this year, knocking out Peter Ebdon, Stephen Maguire and Mark Allen to set up his tussle with Selby and clinch a top-16 ranking for next season.

He drifted to 48th in the provisional world rankings in late 2008, after personal turmoil which followed the death of his father-in-law and former manager Alex Lambie to cancer and his wife Elaine suffering a miscarriage and a cancer scare.

Qualifier Dott enjoyed the better opening, leading 5-3, although Selby finished with an impressive 142 break to win the final frame.

The pair will resume this afternoon, before two more sessions tomorrow.

World Championship referee Brendan Moore will swap the hush of a Crucible final for the cauldron of a Hillsborough relegation scrap on Sunday.

The 38-year-old Sheffielder is in his third season officiating at the World Championship, and was in charge of Wednesday's quarter-final between Murphy and Carter.

He refereed his first final at the Welsh Open in January and dreams of donning the white gloves for the Crucible climax one day.

But he admits his heart will rule his head come this weekend when Sheffield Wednesday host Crystal Palace in a match that could result in the Owls being relegated to League One.

Moore will head to Hillsborough to cheer on Wednesday in the afternoon before dashing back to the Crucible Theatre to watch the first day of the final from the sidelines.

"I have got my ticket sorted for the Crystal Palace game," he said.

"I will be down there for the final match of the season, then straight back to the Crucible to watch the final.

"As much as I love snooker, it's my job, the last thing on my mind that day will be snooker."

Moore used to be a Hillsborough season-ticket holder, but these days is on tour with World Snooker, travelling to foreign destinations such as Bahrain and Shanghai, so is unable to watch the Owls regularly.

He had to miss the Steel City derby earlier this month because he was refereeing a first-round match at the Crucible.

"I go to Hillsborough as often as I can," he said.

"I have been to a few this season, although the one I am gutted about was I couldn't go to the derby because I was reffing in the morning."

It has been a busy start for Moore at this year's Championships after fellow referees Terry Camilleri, from Malta, and Dutchman Jan Verhaas were left stranded by the recent flights ban.

It meant Moore had to officiate in four first-round matches – he was originally designated to do two – not that he was complaining.

"You just get through on the adrenaline," said Moore.

"I would referee every day if I could, I just love it."