World champion Neil Robertson draws as Mark Selby flies in Premier League
Reigning world champion Neil Robertson had to settle for a draw against Mark Williams last night in the snooker Premier League, while Mark Selby destroyed Marco Fu to move to the top of the table.
The world No.1 and recently crowned World Open champion got off to a bad start in his first league match against Selby, losing 4-2, and knew he couldn’t afford to lose to an in-from Williams otherwise his chances of reaching the play-offs would have faded.
In their last meeting at the World Open, Robertson came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in the semi-final. Williams was looking to avenge for the defeat, and as the only two-left handers to become world champion, it was Welshman Williams who took the opening frame after it looked like Robertson would take it with a break of 38. In the second frame, Williams called a foul on himself after potting a superb red whilst positioned in the air, and was the only person to have known it was a foul. Robertson capitalised and squared up the match after another scrappy frame.
China Open champion Williams edged back in front with a break of 70, but Robertson once again levelled with a 55 break. Robertson wasn’t playing at his best, and Williams took the fifth frame to guarantee himself a point after pocketing an extra £1,000 for making a 105. Playing catch-up all night, the final frame went the way of Robertson after he knocked in a break of 65.
Robertson has a lot of games left to play, and needs to start winning to move off the foot of the table. When he returns next week for week six, a match against the UK champion Ding Junhui awaits the Australian.
Masters champion Selby produced a scintillating 5-1 display over Fu to grab his second win of the Premier League campaign. Having lost to Ding last week in similar fashion, Selby had a lot to prove, and he didn’t disappoint.
The Jester from Leicester made the perfect start, taking the first frame with a break of 90. He missed out on the £1,000 bonus for a century break after missing a black. Fu has been the surprise package of this season’s competition so far, and showed why after he responded with a run of 68 to level the match, despite Selby trying to get snookers.
Selby though slipped into another gear, and runs of 64 and 30 helped him take the third frame. Another half-century break, this time 53, from Selby enabled him to leave the arena with at least a point as he went 3-1 up. Selby then found another gear and hit a 131 to take the £1,000 bonus, and then made 90 to crush Fu, who had no answer to Selby’s game.
“I’m over the moon. I wanted the win but to play like that and win was a real bonus,” said Selby. “I’m devastated I missed out on the two tons because that two grand would be far better in my pocket than Barry Hearn’s [World Snooker chairman].
“I’m happy to be top but I need more points and I’ve got two tough games to come but I’ve given myself a chance,” added Selby.
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