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Neil Robertson won the final frame of the afternoon session to establish a 4-3 lead over Ding Junhui in the final of the Grand Prix at Kelvin Hall in Glasgow.

The match was the first ranking final between two non-British players for nearly a quarter of a century, since Silvino Francisco beat Kirk Stevens to win the 1985 British Open.

Both players have won three previous titles, along with Thailand's James Wattana, so one of the two finalists will become the most successful ever player from outside Britain and Ireland.

Robertson started in commanding fashion to continue his remarkable pot success rate and he quickly imposed himself on the match.

The 27-year-old Australian downed one of his trademark long reds to get a foothold in the opening frame and swiftly moves to 17 with two fine pots on the black.

Another venomous shot into the pack from Robertson enabled him to move serenely through the remaining reds and post a stunning 124 to stamp his authority on the match.

Robertson immediately seized control of the second frame with another long red as Ding was not afforded a glimmer of an opportunity.

The Australian continued on his merry way with a break of 68 to demonstrate his supreme confidence and close out the frame to establish a 2-0 lead.

Ding has had a habit of powering back after a sluggish start in his matches at Kelvin Hall, and he hauled himself back into the match once more.

The world number 13 edged out his opponent in a scrappy third frame and held his composure after two aberrations on the black to reduce the deficit.

The Chinese then showed impeccable control of the cue ball as he precisely negotiated his way through the pack of reds to level the match up at 2-2 with a break of 80 as the players departed for the mid-session break.

Ding's momentum continued unabated as he clinched the fifth frame with an imperious break of 113 which was unerring in its clinical execution after his opponent uncharacteristically left a red over the corner pocket.

Robertson then benefited in similar circumstances in the sixth frame as the Chinese saw a long shot on a red ricochet off the jaws of the corner pocket. The world number nine was then utterly ruthless in punishing his opponent with a faultless break of 108.

The seventh frame was a scrappy affair as both players encountered misfortune: Ding received a horrible result from a powerful cannon into the pack, before Robertson had a horrendous miscue on a regulation red which damaged his tip.

A typically thunderous long pot gave Robertson a free reign once more, and he capped a fine resurgence as he clinched the final frame to hold the ascendency going into the evening session.

Watch the evening session of the final LIVE at 8pm Sunday on British Eurosport 2 (Sky 411 / Virgin Media 525); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport