Neil Robertson claims first Masters title after beating Shaun Murphy in final at Alexandra Palace
Australia’s Neil Robertson put up a superb snooker show at the Alexandra Palace to oust his opponent, England’s Shaun Murphy in the final of 2012 Masters Snooker event by the score line of 10-6. The match was expected to be one of the most thrilling encounters
but Robertson did not let that happen and finished the game in the 16th frame.
The 29-year-old Robertson is famous for his outstanding game play under pressure which he proved in the final of Masters Snooker event. The Aussie holds a record of never losing a televised final match anywhere in the world. The final clash at the Alexandra
Palace was a Robertson show as he nudged down his opponent quite easily.
The first session of the best-of-19 frames final was a topsy-turvy affair as both players tried their best to grab the lead. Robertson took the first scrappy frame win by 61-57 to clinch the lead 1-0. Murphy bounced back with back-to-back frame victories
by the score line of 30-93 and 7-116 after firing two outstanding knocks of 65 and 102 to edge past Robertson by one frame at 1-2.
The Thunder from Down Under capitalised back with two straight frame wins at 120-6 and 74-34 with a fine century clearance of 103 in Frame 4 to snatch the lead again at 3-2. The Magician pulled level by 3-3 with a half-century break of 53 points. The Australian
potter came back strong after 3-3 and moved within a two frame lead at 5-3 after clinching the seventh and eight frame 72-0 and 72-48 with breaks of 72 and 60, respectively.
Murphy was under immense pressure because Robertson was playing an attacking game. However, with a ninth frame triumph by 21-79, the World Number six was able to reduce a bit of the pressure. He led the tenth frame 0-32 but a miss brought Robertson on the
table, as he swept the baize with a cracking 101 clearance and retained his lead.
The 2012 World Snooker Champion was in superb form and he held a strong position in the game. He made his grip over the match stronger when he moved within a five frame lead at 9-4 after clinching three consecutive wins pocketing two breaks of 76 points.
Murphy sprang back again with back-to-back wins by 0-85 and 0-86 but failed to unsettle Robertson.
The World Number four smashed a 70-point clearance in the 16th frame to claim the victory 10-6 and win his first ever Masters title.
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