Robertson overcomes Selby in semi scrap
NEIL ROBERTSON reached his 30th ranking event final as his break of 92 sealed the deciding frame in a 6-5 win over Mark Selby at the Matchroom.live English Open.
The Australian goes through to today’s final to face Judd Trump or John Higgins over 17 frames for the £70,000 top prize.
He is aiming for his 19th ranking title and victory would also make him the first player to win three Home Nations events.
It should have been easier for
Robertson as his break of 129 put him 5-3 ahead and he could have won it in frame nine but ran out of position on the last red.
Early in frame ten Robertson had another opportunity but made only 19 before missing the blue to a centre pocket, and his opponent’s 51 made it 5-5.
Luck went Robertson’s way in the decider as he missed a long red but left the balls safe. He later slotted in a long red then potted a risky brown to a centre pocket, and went on to make his match winning break.
“It was a fantastic match,” said 38-year-old Robertson. “Mark was as tenacious as ever.
“I had most of the run of the ball, we had a joke about it at the end. But you have to take advantage when it goes your way. I was lucky in the last frame when I missed the long red and didn’t leave Mark anything.
“It will be a great final tomorrow.”