Ronnie O’Sullivan hammers Neil Robertson to reach semi-finals of Premier League
Ronnie O’Sullivan served up a treat last night as he booked his place in the semi-finals of the snooker Premier League by beating Neil Robertson 5-1, while Shaun Murphy also sealed his passage by beating Mark Williams.
O’Sullivan and Robertson last met in the World Open final, where Robertson beat the Rocket 5-1, but O’Sullivan turned the tables on the world champion and world No.1 in this match.
The game took time to take off, but when it did, O’Sullivan produced a master-class. He took the opening frame with a break of 80 after a safety battle, and then he knocked in a 49 to take a 2-0 lead.
Robertson has struggled so far in the Premier League, and he continued to do so, as O’Sullivan very quickly took the third frame with breaks of 40 and 84 to take the first of two available points. O’Sullivan stepped up another level and made a 130 to seal the win and his place in the play-offs.
Robertson managed to make his evening worthwhile by winning the next frame with a 49, but O’Sullivan was in no mood to concede another frame and he ended the match with an excellent 79.
“I’m pleased with the victory which is always nice against the world champion and world No.1 and hopefully I can go on from here,” said O’Sullivan, who has a chance to win his sixth Premier League title in seven years.
Robertson still has a chance to go through, provided he beats Murphy next week and Mark Selby loses to O’Sullivan, but it is out of his hands.
O’Sullivan’s win meant reigning Premier League champion Murphy also qualified for the semi-finals. He beat Williams 4-2 in the first game to put himself in a great position, and O’Sullivan did the work for the 2005 world champion.
Both Murphy and Williams were in contention for the play-off positions, and it was Murphy who made the best start, taking the first frame with a 64. Murphy also took the second frame and was on course for a 147 maximum after potting 13 reds and 12 blacks, but he missed the 13th black.
Williams came back in the third frame, and made a 54 to reduce the deficit. Playing in his last game, Williams was set to level the match, but after he missed frame ball, Murphy cleared up and guaranteed himself a point.
The next frame went to a black-ball finish, and when it looked like Williams was going to take it after playing a good safety shot, Murphy fluked the black after he attempted the pot to the top left pocket and it went in the right middle. It was a good fluke for Murphy as it meant he would take the win and a costly one for Williams. The Welshman did take the final frame, but his place in the semi-finals depends on other results going his way next week.
“It was a typical league match. Not the prettiest game but a win is a win and I’m pleased with the points,” said Murphy, who also had something to say about some rule changes that should be made in the future.
“The best player didn’t necessarily win tonight, and maybe they need to take some steps to change rules to ensure that he does. The easiest and most straightforward would be ball in hand after a foul. Snookers are too often used for tactical advantage and there is no benefit to the player who made the snooker,” Murphy added.
The final round of games pits O’Sullivan against Selby in a repeat of the 2010 Masters final, and Robertson against Murphy.
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