Neil Robertson dumped out by Liam Highfield in second round of 2023 Wuhan Open, Mark Selby also out

ByJames Hilsum

Updated 10/10/2023 at 11:32 GMT

It was a fantastic result for Liam Highfield, who knocked out Neil Robertson after completing a comeback from 3-1 down to prevail into round three with a 5-3 victory. It was an amazing win for Highfield, but a desperately disappointing day for Robertson after letting the match slip away with a series of errors. Mark Selby also lost as he was beaten by Xu Si.

Neil Robertson was dumped out of the Wuhan Open as Liam Highfield recorded a 5-3 victory in the second round.

This will go down as one of the standout victories of Highfield’s career after coming from behind to beat the world No. 6.

Robertson made a promising start to the contest as a red-pink-red combination served him well, before cleaning up to the green to take a break of 61.

World Championship

Robertson to miss first World Championship in 20 years after losing in qualifiers

17/04/2024 at 22:36

Highfield’s response was impressive though, and he levelled things up with a break of 66, leaving two reds on the table.

But Robertson hit back again at the end of an attritional frame after knocking a red down over the middle right pocket, and potted up to the pink to restore his lead.

The writing looked on the wall for Highfield when Robertson extended his advantage with a sensational clearance of 140, after brilliantly utilising a series of red-black combinations to start off the frame very nicely.

He built up the break further with a pink to the middle left and blue to the middle right, as part of a fine break, leaving it hard to see a way back for Highfield.

Highfield emphatically found a way back into the match though, and claimed a superb break of 95 as he narrowly failed to pot a blue into the bottom left, reducing the deficit to 3-2.

• How 'monster' Trump showed his 'iron will' to win English Open - Hendon

He moved level after potting the final red to the left corner and brilliantly clearing up the colours with a break of 80.

Highfield moved within touching distance of a famous victory with a fine red-black-red combination, and a miss on a long green counted for little in the end as he moved back in front ahead of the eighth frame.

The 32-year-old completed a memorable win over the Australian, whose foul on the green sealed a famous victory for the Englishman.

'Back to his very best!' - Robertson makes 140 break against Highfield in Wuhan

Highfield will now face Zhou Yuelong in round three.

Mark Selby also suffered a surprise exit as he was beaten 5-4 by Xu Si, who made a 125 break to close out the win.

X struck first in the contest, before Selby responded with a break of 62.

This topsy-turvy match continued to flow both ways, with Xu restoring his advantage in the next frame thanks to a fine break of 88.

Not over yet! Fluke on black sees Xu extend match-winning break against Selby

World No. 5 Selby moved ahead for the first time after a half-century break in the fifth frame, but could not pull clear as Xu responded with a clearance of 66 to restore parity again.

After claiming another frame each, Xu won the decider in emphatic style with a 125 break.

Elsewhere, Barry Hawkins won 5-2 against Sanderson Lam and Ali Carter made a joint-tournament-high 145 break in a 5-1 win over Jamie Clarke.

- - -

Stream top snooker action, including the Wuhan Open, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com

Snooker

Trump and Baipat out as Selby and Kenna face Brecel and Evans in World Mixed Doubles final

31/03/2024 at 18:37

World Championship

Robertson and Lisowski among star names as draw made for World Championship qualifying

30/03/2024 at 20:23

Snooker

Brecel and Evans lead mixed doubles round robin with win over Trump and Baipat

31/03/2024 at 10:03