Dale whitewashes Robertson in huge Welsh Open shock
DOMINIC Dale caused a huge shock after dumping out Neil Robertson in round two of the Welsh Open with a 4-0 whitewash victory.
Dale, who confessed prior to this clash that he is effectively semiretired and practises only one hour a day knocked out the world No. 4 in an incredible upset in Llandudno.
The world No. 56 set the tone in the first frame winning 75-26 after a costly foul from Robertson allowed the Welshman to take a break of 75 and draw first blood in the contest.
He continued this momentum in the second frame, despite missing a simple black and potentially allowing the man from Melbourne a chance to clear the table.
Robertson took on an ambitious long yellow, which he had to pot to prevent Dale from moving 2-0 ahead. However, he missed the shot and that missed black for Dale counted for little in the end.
The 51-year-old was now halfway towards victory and began the third frame with a superb pot, but failed to land any of the loose reds surrounding the blue ball.
His lead was extended when Robertson conceded the frame after Dale missed a red to the yellow. He concluded that his task of needed four snookers was ultimately a futile one, leaving the Welshman one frame away from victory.
The fourth and ultimately decisive final frame ebbed and flowed both ways, with Dale allowing Robertson a route back into the contest after failing to pot the blue after the pink and black.
The black was suddenly freed up again and a safety game ensued. Robertson played a superb long red and laid a snooker behind Dale’s green.
There were ultimately three reds left on the table, and Robertson inexplicably managed to miss the one he targeted and left a free ball.
Nothing was on there for Dale and the inevitable was prolonged a little longer. The Australian was left needing two snookers after failing to pot the brown after the yellow and green.
However, they did not materialise and it did not stop Dale cruising to a place in round three where he will face Yuan Sijun.