Neil Robertson is the last player through to tomorrow’s semi-final stages of ITV4-televised 2014 Dafabet Champion of Champions after beating Ricky Walden in this evening’s Group 3 final at Ricoh Arena, writes Ziad Chaudry.
It was level pegging for the first six frames until Robertson, 32, the former world champion from Australia, who in the afternoon session handed Ali Carter a 4-0 drubbing, dominated the rest of the match to complete a 6-3 victory.
“With this sort of format it is going to be who can last the longest in the second match if it does get a bit tight,” said Robertson who registered a brilliant 134 break in frame 3. “The match started off very well and the standard in the first four frames was brilliant.
“After that there was a bit more safety play and the turning point was me winning that frame to go 4-3 up on the black, and Ricky maybe started to tire a little bit and understandably so because he has just come back from a big win in China on Sunday.”
The Australian plays Romford-based Judd Trump in the semis at 7pm. “I have played Judd a few times and have both beaten each other in big matches, and both gone on to win tournaments when we have beaten the other, him in particular – he has beaten me two or three times and gone on to win big tournaments.
“We always seem to have strange matches, neither of us seem to play our best but it will be a great occasion; one table set up and in front of a big crowd,”
First up tomorrow at the table from 1pm is defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan taking on China’s Ding Junhui.