Matthew Stevens whitewashes Neil Robertson to set up John Higgins clash – Premier League Snooker
The 2000 Benson and Hedges Masters and 2003 UK Championship winner, Matthew Stevens, has defeated the former 2010 World Champion, Neil Robertson, by a frame score of 3-0 in a best-of-five frames semi-final match of the Premier League Snooker.
This event is being held at the Embassy Theatre in Skegness.
The world number 14, Stevens, who overpowered Shaun Murphy to claim the 2011 Championship League Snooker title to qualify for the Premier League, hardly took 30 minutes to finish the matters off against the Australian.
However, the overall score-line between both players was 18-63 (Stevens 35), 44-76 (Robertson 31, Stevens 42, 34), 13-82 (Stevens 82).
Stevens dominated the opening frame with a modest break of 35 to draw the first blood 1-0. In the second frame, the first chance fell for Robertson, who currently holds the sixth spot in the world rankings, but he lost his nerves, breaking down on 42 and
Stevens went even ahead by 2-0 without doing anything outstanding.
Third frame was over within a blink of any eye, as the Welsh Dragon, Stevens, knocked in a mind-boggling break of 82 to wrap it up.
This was Stevens’ first appearance since in the Premier League Snooker since 2002. Therefore, the Welshman was pretty delighted with his performance.
He told the media after the match that it was his first time with the new format but somehow he managed to win.
“I enjoyed it! Neil got in first but missed the blue and I settled myself down a bit. It's my first time in this format and the shot clock caught me out a bit but hopefully I can win a few games and get up the table,” said Stevens.
Stevens, who will face John Higgins in the final, reckons it is 50-50 situation between John and him since it is a race to three frames.
“The crowd are there to be entertained; they've paid good money and I think they got their money's worth. I've no idea who'll win between me and John – it's at toss of a coin and whoever gets in will have a chance,” he said.
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