Neil Robertson succesfully defended his Tour Championship crown, defeating John Higgins by 10-9 fron 9-4 down.
Congratulations Neil Robertson!
Last season, Neil had beaten Ronnie in the final by 10-4 and he looked in real danger to suffer the same fate himself at the hands of John Higgins when he trailed by 9-4. He then just won 6 frames on the trot … as you do!
Robertson with the Cazoo Series and Cazoo Tour Championship trophies.
Neil Robertson defended his Cazoo Tour Championship title with a sensational fightback defeat of John Higgins, coming from 9-4 down to win 10-9 in Llandudno.
It’s the second time this season that Robertson has inflicted a gut-wrenching loss on Higgins. The Australian trailed 8-6 in the English Open final back in November and rallied to secure a thrilling 9-8 win.
Victory for 2010 World Champion Robertson enhances an already golden season. He landed Triple Crown glory at the Cazoo Masters in January, where he defeated Barry Hawkins in the title match at Alexandra Palace.
Robertson’s other successes have seen him comprehensively win the Cazoo Series. He was runner-up to Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Cazoo World Grand Prix before Christmas. The Melbourne cueman then lifted the the Cazoo Players Championship trophy last month, by again beating Hawkins in the final.
Tonight’s victory caps off a successful title defence for Robertson, who defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-4 in last year’s final. He picks up the £150,000 top prize and secures the 23rd ranking title of his career. That draws him level with Judd Trump in sixth position on the all-time winner’s list.
Defeat will a bitter pill to swallow for 46-year-old Higgins, who leaves Llandudno with the £60,000 runner-up prize. The four-time Crucible king has now lost five major finals this season. In addition to the English Open final defeat, he was also on the wrong side of a 9-8 loss from 8-6 ahead at the Northern Ireland Open against Mark Allen. The Scot lost out in further finals at the Champion of Champions and Scottish Open.
It was 31-time ranking event winner Higgins who emerged from a pulsating afternoon session with a 5-3 advantage and he pressed towards the finish line from the off this evening.
Higgins claimed a tightly contested opening frame on the colours, before crafting a run of 68 to move four ahead. He then won the 11th frame to make it 8-3. Robertson was left clinging on by his fingernails, but a gutsy 91 break ensured he headed into the mid-session with an 8-4 deficit.
When play resumed Higgins fired in a break of 84 to move just one from the title at 9-4. He had the first chance in the 14th frame, but broke down on 24. Robertson stepped up and a contribution of 54 helped him to reduce his arrears.
The Thunder from Down Under then struck with a superb century run of 106 to crank up the heat at 9-6. Both players had chances in a tense 16th, which went the way of Robertson. He followed that up by showing his class with breaks of 72 and 93 in consecutive frames to force an unlikely decider.
Robertson took on a risky plant early on in the frame and left Higgins a chance with the balls in favourable positions. However, he spurned a red to the top right corner. It proved to be his final opportunity and Robertson stepped up with a ruthless run of 72 to cap off a momentous turnaround and win 10-9.
“I always believe that I can come back from any position. The way I play the game means that if I can get the momentum then I can go on a winning streak in a number of frames,” said 40-year-old Robertson.
“I wasn’t allowing the match to get bogged down. John was just dictating the position of the balls. I didn’t have too many answers. When he went 9-4 up he was at his best, it was incredible to experience playing against him. When you aren’t making too many mistakes it is easier to get back into a match. I wasn’t kicking myself over anything, because John was just playing too well.
“He was really unlucky at certain times, but that is what you need to be able to come back in a match. I feel for him big time. He is such a fantastic person and a wonderful player. He will use that for motivation at the World Championship as he always does.
“It is like I’ve had three finals this week against brilliant players. Hopefully that will hold me in good stead. I can have a few days off now, chill and relax. Then I will get back into preparations for the worlds.”
Higgins said: “Every credit to Neil, he came back and put me under unbelievable pressure. I just didn’t stand up to it at the end. It is unforgivable, you cannot miss that red when you have the chance to get a few points on the board. He played amazing stuff to come back at me.”
There were people on social media branding Neil “arrogant”. I disagree. What he has is a tremendous self-belief and, like many proud Australians, doesn’t feel the need to “downplay” himself. If you are a top sportsperson it’s a good mindset to have. There is no doubt in my mind that he is the best player in the world right now.
The part I set in bold is exactly why John Higgins is such a hard opponent to play against. To outplay him at that sort of game is extremely difficult. The only answer really is to go all out attack and it’s a do or die approach … but it paid off for Neil yesterday evening.
The last 16 seeding at the World Championship is now set.
This is the draw:
Mark Selby v Qualifier
Yan Bingtao v Qualifier
Barry Hawkins v Qualifier
Mark Williams v Qualifier
Kyren Wilson v Qualifier
Stuart Bingham v Qualifier
Anthony McGill v Qualifier
Judd Trump v Qualifier
—————————–
Neil Robertson v Qualifier
Jack Lisowski v Qualifier
Luca Brecel v Qualifier
John Higgins v Qualifier
Zhao Xintong v Qualifier
Shaun Murphy v Qualifier
Mark Allen v Qualifier
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Qualifier
In the bottom half, Neil and John could possibly meet again in the QFs at the Crucible, this time over 25 frames. The winner could meet Ronnie in the semi-finals over 33 frames. Considering what those three showed last week this could be a real treat.
In the top half, I don’t fancy either Mark Selby nor Judd Trump to reach the one table setup. This because Mark has been suffering from depression all season and the World Championship is very demanding and Judd isn’t in the right mindset at all at the moment.
Yes, indeed, the first round starts tomorrow, at the English Institute of Sports in Sheffield.
This is the draw:
Rounds 1 to 3 are best of 11, Round 4 is best of 19.
These are my predictions as to who will reach the Crucible:
Ricky Walden, Lu Ning, Stephen Maguire, Jordan Brown, Jak Jones, Jamie Jones, Ding Junhui, Ashley Hugill, David Gilbert, Oliver Lines, Robert Milkins, Ryan Day, Ali Carter, Joe Perry, Graeme Dott, Hossein Vafaei.
That is not necessarily who I want to see there … Indeed there are a number of players who have been on the tour for a long time, who are not necessarily “old players”, and who are in danger to drop off the tour: Kurt Maflin, Theppy, Sunny Akani, Michael Holt, Matthew Stevens, Dominic Dale, Marco Fu … to name a few.
The covid-19 crisis has hit everyone, but non Brtish/Irish players have suffered the most.
Marco Fu will be back in action after two years away from the main tour competition. It will be interesting to see how far he can progress and if WST will consider to give him a wildcard.
We are aware that Liang Wenbo has been sentenced following an incident of domestic-related assault. We strongly condemn all forms of violence. This matter has been passed to WPBSA Disciplinary and their Chairman Jason Ferguson has released the following statement:
WPBSA Press release
Liang Wenbo
Following the conviction of Liang Wenbo for domestic-related assault at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 9th February 2022 and subsequent sentence on 1st April 2022, the WPBSA has decided that Liang has a case to answer for misconduct under the WPBSA Disciplinary Rules.
The charges are that Liang Wenbo’s behaviour was unbecoming of a sportsperson and has brought the sport into disrepute. This is contrary to the WPBSA Members Rules and his contract with World Snooker Ltd to compete on the World Snooker Tour.
Jason Ferguson, the Chairman of the WPBSA has today, 2nd April, taken the decision to suspend Liang from attending or competing on the World Snooker Tour with immediate effect. This suspension will remain in place until the conclusion of the hearing or hearings and the determination of this matter. Liang has the right to appeal this decision.
Jason Ferguson said: “The decision to suspend a player with immediate effect is not one taken lightly. However, due to the violent and criminal nature of this offence, I have reached the decision that this is the only appropriate action to be taken pending the outcome of the formal disciplinary process.”
The matter will be referred to the WPBSA Disciplinary Committee where a formal hearing will take place at a venue and date to be confirmed. WPBSA Rules and WSL Player Contract extracts
WPBSA Members Rules
OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS
General Obligations
1.1 Members shall, at all times (i.e. whether at a Tournament or not), behave in a proper and correct manner consistent with their status as professional sportsmen.
1.3 A Member shall not make or cause to be made any statement or commit or cause to be committed any act which in the reasonable view of the WPBSA is likely to bring into disrepute the games of snooker and/or billiards.
WSL Players Contract
OBLIGATIONS OF THE PLAYER
3.1 General Obligations
In consideration for the Player having the opportunity to participate in the WSL Events by WSL entering into this Agreement with the Player, the Player shall:
3.1.5 Behave in a professional and reputable manner befitting a professional sportsperson.
At the time of writing, Liang’s name is still in the World Championship draw and it’s unclear what will be done but given the structure of this tournament, I expect his opponent to get a bye to the next round.
“My main aim in snooker always is to enjoy it, and at the moment I am not,” Trump, who dipped his toe into the pool world earlier this season, said.
“So whether I have to start missing more events or even do what Ronnie did and miss a season out, I don’t know. I certainly aim to have a couple of holidays, but the calendar doesn’t look great for the first few months of next season at the moment. There are not a lot of events to play in.
“So maybe it is the best chance or time I will get to take a little break out of the game.
“It has been a long three seasons for me, and mentally draining. Not being able to keep that form up and struggling, it is quite tough to take mentally.
“Apart from the odd tournament, the odd game really, I have produced that kind of standard like against Luca all season.
“The sooner the season is over, the better for me I think. I think the best thing I could do for the next couple of weeks is nothing, and basically not play until the World Championship. Maybe I need to take my mind off snooker and just turn up there in Sheffield. At this moment in time I don’t even want to play in the World Championship, so I’ll go away and think about things.
“It has just been a bad season. I am not enjoying my snooker, and even when I have won it has been papering and patching over the cracks and getting by. So for me the sooner I can get this season over, have a break, and get into the next one, the better for me.
“Right now the World Championship feels like just another tournament and there are no expectations from me, I will turn up because I have to.”
…
Every player, no matter how brilliant has ups and downs in the course of a career. It’s normal and it can be hard but I must admit that I struggle to feel much sympathy here. All his bluster over the last two or thee years doesn’t make him very likeable to me I’m afraid.
The second semi-final was played yesterday and it was John Higgins who came on top, beating Luca Brecel by 10-7. Luca started well: he went 3-0 up. However once John got going he dominated the match.
John Higgins overcame Luca Brecel 10-7 to book his place in the Cazoo Tour Championship final in Llandudno and set up a Sunday showdown for the title with Neil Robertson.
Tomorrow’s finale is a mouth watering prospect. Higgins and Robertson have already met this season, with the Thunder from Down under edging a thrilling English Open final 9-8. They will do battle again over the best of 19 frames tomorrow, with a top prize of £150,000 on the line.
Tonight’s victory for 31-time ranking event winner Higgins avenges a 9-5 defeat at the hands of Brecel in this very venue in the Scottish Open final back in December. That was Higgins’ only ever loss at the hands of Brecel and he now leads the head-to-head 5-1.
Tomorrow will be Higgins’ 55th appearance in a ranking final and his fourth of the campaign. However, he is still hunting a first piece of major silverware this season.
Despite being yet to land a ranking win this term, Higgins was rewarded for his consistency following the Gibraltar Open. After topping the standings in the BetVictor Series, he landed a bumper £150,000 bonus.
Brecel made the early running in the afternoon session, but he had no answers when Higgins turned up the heat. The four-time World Champion scooped up the last five frames to end 5-3 ahead coming into this evening.
They traded the first two frames , before a break of 50 helped Higgins to move 7-4 ahead. Former China Champion Brecel trailed the 12th frame 52-4, but a fine clearance of 69 helped him to stay in touch at 7-5.
Breaks of 68 and 108 then saw the two-time ranking event winner restore parity at 7-7. However, Higgins would go on to blitz to the finish line. The Glaswegian took two on the bounce and then crafted a run of 67 to get over the line and wrap up his 10-7 win.
“I’m buzzing. I’m really delighted to beat Luca. He started off like a train and at 3-0 behind he could have blown me away really. I couldn’t believe I was leading after the first session,” said 46-year-old Higgins.
“I feel really good about my game. I’m missing a few balls but the main thing is that deep within myself I’m confident that I can go in and maybe do something. I am going to need to be at the top of my game to have a chance of beating Neil.
“It is an unbelievable test playing Neil. He stands up there with any snooker player that has played the game. His long potting is unbelievable and he has the whole package, but I will look forward to it.”
Those of you who read the “comments section” will know that life has really come in the way of snooker this week, and, yesterday I didn’t see a ball. It’s the same today so far, but a look at the first session scores is telling me that John has the answers to Neil’s game. It’s not that surprising, Ronnie and Neil play a similar game and we know only too well how John manages to dictate the match pace and style when playing Ronnie.
Ronnie and Neil Robertson served us another fantastic match… here are the scores:
Ronnie came the wrong side of it but it could easily have been the other way around. In the deciding frame, Neil wnt for a very difficult pot along the top cushion. It was a do or die shot. He got it, had he not potted that red, Ronnie would probably have won the match. This match was, again, a fantastic advert for snooker.
Defending champion Neil Robertson and world number one elect Ronnie O’Sullivan couldn’t be separated after a stunning session of snooker in the first semi-final at the Cazoo Tour Championship ended 4-4.
The pair clashed in last season’s final, with Robertson coming through 10-4 to win the title. They both sit at the top of the Cazoo Series standings this time around. O’Sullivan defeated Robertson in the Cazoo World Grand Prix final before Christmas and Australia’s Robertson won the Cazoo Players Championship.
They also met at the Cazoo Masters, where Robertson defeated O’Sullivan on the way to winning the event and capturing the Paul Hunter Trophy. Regardless of what happens over the weekend, 38-time ranking event winner O’Sullivan is guaranteed to move to the top of the world rankings.
Robertson took the opening frame this afternoon with a century run of 115. However, from there it was the Rocket who turned on the after burners. He composed breaks of 125, 90, 106 and 128 to charge into a 4-1 lead.
Despite momentum appearing to be with six-time Crucible king O’Sullivan, 2010 World Champion Robertson dug deep to turn the tide. Breaks of 62, 54, 85 and 95 helped him to four on the bounce which saw him end level at 4-4.
Defending champion Neil Robertson withstood a barrage of five century breaks from Ronnie O’Sullivan, to win 10-9 in their Cazoo Tour Championship semi-final in Llandudno.
Today’s encounter was a repeat of last year’s final, where Australia’s Robertson triumphed by a 10-4 scoreline. This evening’s climax was considerably closer.
Robertson and O’Sullivan have clashed in four high profile encounters so far this term. Robertson has now come out on top on three occasions, also scoring wins at the Cazoo Masters and the Cazoo Players Championship. Although O’Sullivan did defeat Robertson in the final of the Cazoo World Grand Prix before Christmas.
Robertson went on to win the title at the Players Championship and as a result he has now secured the Cazoo Series trophy, regardless of the result in Sunday’s final. The Melbourne cueman will face either John Higgins or Luca Brecel in the title match over the best of 19 frames.
Despite suffering defeat, O’Sullivan created his own piece of history this evening. He is the first player ever to make five centuries in two consecutive matches. The Rocket also fired in five hundred breaks during his 10-9 first round win over Mark Williams.
The pair came into this evening locked together at 4-4 following a pulsating afternoon session.
It was O’Sullivan who took the opener tonight, before 2010 World Champion Robertson claimed two on the bounce to lead for the first time since frame one at 6-5. He then headed into the mid-session two to the good, thanks to a break of 66 to make it 7-5.
O’Sullivan took the first frame after the interval, before the pair went into break building overdrive. A century run of 117 moved Robertson 8-6 up. However, O’Sullivan responded in turn with a run of exactly 100.
The 16th frame saw O’Sullivan leave his counterpart requiring a snooker after a break of 70. Robertson got one on the final red, but spurned a mid-range pink to allow 38-time ranking event winner O’Sullivan to draw level at 8-8.
A break of 112 saw O’Sullivan move to the verge of victory, but Robertson held his nerve to take the 18th frame and force a decider. He fired in a fearless run of 80, including a do or die red along the top cushion, to earn his place in the final
“It’s a huge win. I thought it was a brilliant match. You won’t see better quality from two players than the first session today,” said 40-year-old Robertson.
“He made some unbelievable breaks tonight out of absolutely nothing. Most players would dream of making 30 in those situations and he was making centuries. You have to enjoy it while you are in the chair but also not accept that you are going to lose.
“You always have to enjoy playing the greats of the game because you never know how long it is going to happen for. Whenever I play the likes of John Higgins, Ronnie or Mark Williams I always savour the moment. These guys were idols of mine growing up. I never thought I would meet them let alone play them.”
The two players could hardly be separated on the table with their epic battle coming down to a final-frame decider which Robertson won to record a 10-9 victory.
O’Sullivan notched five centuries in the match, becoming the first player ever to hit five centuries in successive matches, but still had kinds words to share with his opponent as they shook hands after the match.
Robertson said: ‘Full compliments to Ronnie with what he said to me at the end of the match, that was a fantastic amount of respect he has for me.
‘He even said himself that he played well and just my ball-striking was unbelievable so I’m really happy for those kind words from him.
‘Some of the breaks he made… it was exhibition stuff all in no time, just incredible.
‘Nobody else can make the breaks the way he’s making them today. I thought he was a little bit unlucky really.’
Defending champion Robertson will face either Luca Brecel or John Higgins in the final and O’Sullivan believes he’s the favourite, describing him as the ‘best player in the world.’
‘He’s got unbelievable technique, so gifted the way he just hits the ball, he can create angles, different lines, he’s got loads of options when playing the shot, the complete player really,’ O’Sullivan said.
‘For me he’s the best player in the world. If he played more tournaments, he’d probably be number one.
‘He’s a phenomenal player in his prime probably playing the best snooker he’s ever played.’
…
Ronnie BTW set a new record … he became the first player in snooker history to score 5 centuries in consecutive matches. Incredibly, that wasn’t enough to win yesterday!
I don’t think that Ronnie will be too disappointed. Usually nowadays, playing well is more important to him than winning, and he certainly did play well. If he can bring that form at the Crucible, it could be interesting
Luca Brecel scored his first ever win over Judd Trump in a ranking event, knocking the 2019 World Champion out of the Cazoo Tour Championship by a 10-6 scoreline.
Former China Champion Brecel’s only previous victory against Trump came in the invitational Champion of Champions back in 2017. Tonight’s win sees Brecel reduce his head-to-head arrears with Trump to 8-2.
This has proven to be a significant season for 27-year-old Belgian Brecel. He went on a superb run to the final of the Cazoo UK Championship at the end of last year, but was beaten by Zhao Xintong. A week later he landed his second ranking crown by beating John Higgins in the title match at the Scottish Open.
Next up Brecel faces a repeat of that final with Higgins, at the very same venue here in Llandudno. He will be hoping for a similar outcome when they face off over the best of 19 frames on Saturday.
Defeat will come as a disappointment for Trump, who failed to live up to his red hot form from recent weeks. Earlier this month he won the inaugural Turkish Masters, making a 147 in the final against Matthew Selt. He was also runner-up to Joe Perry at the Welsh Open.
Brecel had opened up a commanding lead after this afternoon’s play, ending 6-2 ahead. There was no let up when they got underway this evening, with Brecel taking the opener to move 7-2 up.
At that point Trump mounted a comeback charge. Breaks of 76, 103 and a tournament high run of 140 helped him claim four of the next five and claw his way back into contention at 8-6.
However, from there Brecel clinically charged to the line. He won the 15th frame, before a contribution of 73 saw him over the line to come through a 10-6 victor.
Brecel said: “I am very proud. Just winning one game here feels like winning three in any other tournament. It just proves how well I am playing this season, to beat such a top player in a long game.
“I have a good mix. I’m confident and patient. You need that in the long games. I just see this as a practise for the World Championship, so to win is a bonus. Hopefully I can keep it going as long as possible.
“It is going to be very difficult, because John is a very good player. I might even need to play better than today, because Judd missed a few more than he normally would. I’ll need to step it up a bit.”
If I understood the commentators correctly, Judd was favourite with the bookies to win this event. I don’t get that at all. Except for the last session of the 2022 Turkish Masters final, and he has been poor by his previous seasons standard for over a year now and he was poor yesterday as well for most of the match, really poor. I also don’t understand the “red hot form from recent weeks” in the above text either. There was only some real good form for half a match in total. Did the person who wrote this actually watched his matches? I wonder.
Judd apparently said that he saw this event as “practice for the World Championship”. Well he certainly needs more practice!
Tonight’s victory caps off a successful title defence for Robertson, who defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-4 in last year’s final. He picks up the £150,000 top prize and secures the 23rd ranking title of his career. That draws him level with Judd Trump in sixth position on the all-time winner’s list.
“I always believe that I can come back from any position. The way I play the game means that if I can get the momentum then I can go on a winning streak in a number of frames,” said 40-year-old Robertson.
John Higgins overcame Luca Brecel 10-7 to book his place in the Cazoo Tour Championship final in Llandudno and set up a Sunday showdown for the title with Neil Robertson.
Defending champion Neil Robertson and world number one elect Ronnie O’Sullivan couldn’t be separated after a stunning session of snooker in the first semi-final at the Cazoo Tour Championship ended 4-4.
Defending champion Neil Robertson withstood a barrage of five century breaks from Ronnie O’Sullivan, to win 10-9 in their Cazoo Tour Championship semi-final in Llandudno.
Luca Brecel scored his first ever win over Judd Trump in a ranking event, knocking the 2019 World Champion out of the Cazoo Tour Championship by a 10-6 scoreline.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 