Ronnie O’Sullivan fights back to beat Neil Robertson in quarters of 2012 World Snooker Championship
Two Crucible kings, former three-time World Snooker Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan and 2010 World Snooker Champion Neil Robertson, produced some classy fireworks in the quarter-final match of the 2012 World Snooker Championship, which was being labelled as the
‘final before final’.
The Englishman clinched the match after bouncing back from nowhere to beat the Australian cueman by the score of 13-10 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
The first two session of the game were quite tussling as both potters went neck-to-neck to grab the overall lead. Robertson breezed into a quick lead at the end of the first session by the score line of 3-5 and was in advantage over the Rocket. However,
the Aussie’s happiness did not last long as the Essex Exocet fired some scintillating snooker shots to storm into six frame victories and snatch the lead 9-5.
The match went into a tense situation after two sessions as the Thunder from Down Under was trying his best to add some sets to his side of the score board. He succeeded in next three frames to move up at 9-8 but some superb clearances of 71, 104 and 100
from the Wordsley potter nudged him four frames down at 12-8 and the Englishman retained his lead.
Robertson won two more frames to reach 12-10 but it was not enough for him as O’Sullivan clinched the 23rd frame to claim the quarter-final win by the score of 13-10.
While speaking to the media in his post match interview, O’Sullivan said, “It's nice to enjoy the game, and to play with openness which is my natural game. My game is aggressive and I don't mind leaving people chances as long as I'm cueing all right. Neil's
had a great tournament, he's been fantastic and he's had another good season.”
Robertson, on the other hand, added, “Ronnie's very hard to play against. He played very aggressively today which surprised me a bit. I played too slowly in the afternoon - I just couldn't get going, I couldn't get any rhythm.”
The 36-year-old O’Sullivan will next meet the Welsh Dragon, Matthew Stevens, who defeated Ryan Day by 13-5, in the semi-final encounter at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
Tags: