SHEFFIELD (England), April 24: Scotland's Graeme Dott moved to within three frames of a place in the quarterfinals of the world snooker championship after taking a 10-6 lead over England's Nigel Bond on Sunday.

Dott, a losing finalist two years ago, advanced steadily in a low-scoring session featuring only three half-century breaks.

Bond, who beat Dott's compatriot Stephen Hendry on the black in the deciding frame in the first round, will need to show similar resolve if he is to make further progress.

In the night's other match, Matthew Stevens of Wales and Ken Doherty of Ireland were tied at 8-8.

Stevens fought back from 7-4 down, winning three frames in a row to level at 7-7. Doherty regained the lead by taking a scrappy 15th frame.

But Stevens clinched the final frame of the session, which lasted over half an hour, to make it all-square.

Earlier in the day, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ryan Day were locked at 4-4 at the end of the opening session in their second round match.

England's O'Sullivan, who has won the title twice and is the current world number one, claimed the first two frames to take an early lead.

However, Welsh qualifier Day hit back by winning the next three frames to edge in front.

A 140 clearance from O'Sullivan in the sixth frame made it 3-3.

Day compiled a break of 68 to regain the advantage, but O'Sullivan clinched the final frame of the session to level.

Latest scores on Sunday:

Second round (best of 25 frames):

Ryan Day (Wales) is level with Ronnie O'Sullivan (England) 4-4 (41-77, 5-88, 75-4, 66-33, 86-5, 0-140, 69-0, 28-105); Peter Ebdon (England) leads David Gray (England) 6-2 (107-6, 68-39, 30-69, 67-16, 82-25, 59-65, 72-8 63-0); Matthew Stevens (Wales) is level with Ken Doherty (Ireland) 8-8 (75-37, 41-66, 57-65, 11-88, 58-18, 89-0, 0-76, 82-5, 48-79, 48-56, 55-68, 74-0, 69-43, 95-0, 7-83, 62-55); Graeme Dott (Scotland) leads Nigel Bond (England) 10-6 (69-33, 91-11, 21-64, 11-94, 62-53, 114-9, 77-27, 15-56, 51-54, 65-7, 0-68, 69-42, 0-111, 63-51, 68-7, 88-4).—Reuters