Champion of Champions 2021 – Neil Robertson fends off Mark Williams fight back to make group final in Bolton

Updated 16/11/2021 at 19:15 GMT

Neil Robertson made runs of 65, 100 and 62 as he progressed to the group final in the Champion of Champions after a hard-fought 4-2 win against Mark Williams at the University of Bolton Stadium in Bolton. The 2010 world champion will face Kyren Wilson in Tuesday’s group final at 19:00 UK time after he beat Jordan Brown.

Neil Robertson

Image credit: Eurosport

Neil Robertson made runs of 65, 100 and 62 as he kicked off his Champion of Champions campaign with a hard-fought 4-2 win over three-time world champion Mark Williams.

The opening group semi-final of Day 2 of the Champion of Champions pitted one of its greatest potters, Robertson, against one of the greatest tacticians of the game, Mark Williams.

It was, however, 2021 English Open winner Robertson who pounced to steal the first frame from three-time world champion Williams – sealing it with a masterful snooker – and followed that up with a 64 to take firm control of the encounter.

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2010 world champion Robertson missed a chance to take a three-frame advantage when a positional misjudgement allowed Williams back in to cut the arrears.

A share of centuries – a 100 from Robertson and a 104 from Williams – left the Australian with a slender advantage, but the initiative was with Williams heading into frame six.

The 46-year-old Williams began the sixth and final frame with his controversial break-off, but left a long red just two shots later. Robertson duly dropped the red but a loose rudimentary positional shot allowed Williams back in again.

An error-strewn start to the frame saw Robertson deposit a red to the green pocket. However, the Australian missed frame-ball red along the rail to allow Williams one last opportunity to send it to a decider. It was an opportunity Williams failed to take and Robertson cut a tight yellow to the middle to progress to the group final.

Robertson will face Kyren Wilson in the group final on Tuesday evening after he beat Jordan Brown 4-2.

Wilson never looked back after winning the first two frames, with breaks of 59, 86 and 71 helping him secure the win.

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