2025 Champion of Champions – Day 4

Yesterday was the last day of the “group phase” at the 2025 Champion of Champions and it was Neil Robertson who booked the last spot in the semi-finals.

Here is the report shared on the event web site:

ROBERTSON POWERS INTO SEMI-FINALS AS HE CHASES THIRD TITLE | 2025 SPORTSBET.IO CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

Neil Robertson produced another display of trademark heavy scoring and composure on day four of the 2025 Sportsbet.io Champion of Champions, defeating Tom Ford and four-time world champion John Higgins to seal the final semi-final place — and move one step closer to lifting the trophy for a third time.

Robertson commented: “I felt really good out there today. It was a tough one for John because I thought he played well, but a couple of tight misses cost him at important times. We both made errors, as you do in a match of that intensity, but overall it was a really high-quality battle. This event always seems to bring the best out of me, so I’m delighted to be back in another semi-final and fighting for the title again. I’m looking forward to facing Mark (Selby) — we get on great off the table, but once we shake hands on Saturday, it’s game on.”

Robertson started the day in clinical fashion, racing into a 3–0 lead against Tom Ford. Though Ford responded with a break of 97 to get on the board, Robertson wasted no time in closing out the match 4–1 to book his place in the group final.

Robertson then took on John Higgins, who had endured a far tougher path to the group final. The Scotsman was pushed to the limit by last year’s finalist Xiao Guodong, eventually scraping through 4–3 to set up the blockbuster clash between two former Champion of Champions winners.

Robertson struck first before Higgins levelled, but the Australian regained control with a superb century of 127. Higgins again responded immediately, refusing to let the match slip away. Robertson, however, found another gear — compiling a 115 to lead 3–2, then extending that advantage to 4–2 with more assured scoring.

A missed red from Robertson allowed Higgins to pinch the seventh frame, only for the Scotsman to return the favour with an error of his own, gifting the Australian a 5–3 cushion. Higgins, showing trademark resilience, produced a stunning 124 after a tense safety exchange to reduce the deficit once more, but another slip in the next frame proved costly. Robertson stepped in decisively to close out a 6–4 victory and advance to his seventh Champion of Champions semi-final.

With all four semi-finalists confirmed, the stage is now set for a thrilling final three days in Leicester. World No.1 Judd Trump will face World Champion Zhao Xintong, while Mark Selby awaits Robertson for what promises to be a blockbuster clash.

I don’t have much to add regarding the matches played yesterday.

Tom Ford is not a “pressure player” by any means and Neil Robertson was not only too strong for him, he is also someone who looks confident and acts very assertively during matches. Neil can be very intimidating.

Xiao Guodong had his chances, he could have beaten John Higgins. He won the Wuhan Open last August but has done very little since. I’m not sure why. It may be that after that win he relaxed too much and hasn’t put the work in for a while or it may be that being a ranking event winner so early in the season has brought more expectations¹ and he struggles to cope with them …