Neil Robertson reaches the World Open Final
Neil Robertson beat Mark Williams in the semi-final of the World Open at Glasgow yesterday.
The World Champion struggled to get into the match and it was his opponent who started the better.
Williams took advantage of an unlucky Robertson shot in the opening frame. The Australian tried to play the cue ball slowly up to the yellow ball in an attempted safety.
However, the white veered off and ended up snookering the player. The Australian made six attempts at the escape and missed once by millimetres as he attempted a four-cushion escape each time.
Each time the World Champion missed, Williams continued to put Robertson back onto the table and built up enough of a lead to see out the first frame.
The Welsh player took the second frame to put himself into a commanding position and 2-0 up in a best of five frame match. Robertson’s poor break gave Williams the chance he needed and the Welshman won the frame with a well-executed break of 81.
In a change of fortunes, it was Robertson who benefited from the next stroke of luck. In the third frame the Australian fluked a red. The World Champion kept his composure and narrowed the deficit to one with a break of 68.
In the final two frames Robertson produced the form that has seen him dominate the circuit in the last year. The new world number one made an outstanding century break with a 101 in the fourth frame.
He then scored an 81 in the last frame and showed no nerves as he finished of Williams to reach the final in Glasgow for the second time running.
Robertson will face Ronnie O’Sullivan, which will see two of the most exciting players and the two form players of the tournament meet in the final of the World Open.
I didn't feel I made too many mistakes in the first couple of frames," said the new world number one. "But I got a bit of luck in the third frame and in the last two I played really well."
Williams who has been a World Champion will be encouraged by the form he has shown in the tournament. He knocked out the world number two Ali Carter and has proved that he still can compete at the highest level, despite his dip in form over the last number
of years.
Tags: