Eurosport - Sun, 11 Oct 20:01:00 2009
Neil Robertson made history as he beat Ding Junhui 9-4 in the final of the Grand Prix at Kelvin Hall in Glasgow to clinch his fourth career title.
The 2006 champion in Aberdeen enjoyed another victory in Scotland as he became the most successful ever player from outside Britain and Ireland.
Robertson quickly imposed himself on the match, which was the first ranking final between two non-British players for nearly a quarter of a century. The first since Silvino Francisco beat Kirk Stevens to win the 1985 British Open.
The 27-year-old Australian downed one of his trademark long reds to establish himself in the opening frame and took it in serene fashion with a break of 124.
Robertson immediately seized control of the second frame with another long red as he afforded Ding no opportunity to stamp his authority on the match.
The Australian continued on his merry way with a break of 68 to show his supreme confidence and close out the frame to take 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.
Ding 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 won his third frame in a row to hold the ascendency going into the evening session.
The first frame of the evening session was a fragmented affair but, despite missing a simple yellow, Ding was able to level the match once more with a score of 95.
The ninth frame was an epic and engrossing tactical battle which lasted 57 minutes as Ding eventually found the elusive snooker he required to get back into contention. But Robertson finally weathered the storm and forced the crucial error from his opponent as he regained his slender one-frame lead.
Robertson then established a two-frame cushion after Ding played a sloppy safety shot to reflect his laborious efforts in the previous frame and was punished with a slick 73.
Ding appeared rattled by his sudden slump in fortunes and seemed to implode as Robertson compiled a score of 79 to take a three-frame lead into the mid-session interval with the Chinese sat in his chair with a towel draped over his head.
Robertson was ruthless as he closed out the 12th frame with the utmost efficiency while Ding was left to rue a miss on a regulation red to the middle pocket and the Australian was left just one frame shy of victory.
An imperious break of 89 sealed victory for Robertson in the 13th frame and the Grand Prix champion became the provisional world number three in the process to cap his sensational performance in Glasgow.
Comment 1 - 12 of 12
Keep it up Neil.You are a fantastic snooker player and seriously Ding didn't have any chance against you.Cristi from Satu-Mare,Romania
I must say that this tournament was really great!
Seeing Williams, Ding and Robertson doing so well made me very happy.
Ok, Robertson at his best is unbeatable...
And even though I wanted Ding to win, I really enjoyed the game....
very good job neil!!
great job, Robertson! the last week was very good for you. just keep pracitcing and maybe you`ll be the next word champion =]
Kalina form Bulgaria
This Ding guy needs to get some serious coaching from the likes of Ray Reardon ...... He's shot selection and temperament can be awful sometimes, and he always sulks when things are not going his way ....
He could go far if he sorted this stuff out.
Great job, Neil! Keep it up and you can reach the final at the world championship this year!
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Great match, made a refreshing change to see two international players in a final.
Robertson deserved his success he's been outstanding throughout the tournament!
Good job, Robertson! I'm very pleased that you won. You are a super player! Marius from Romania!
GET SOME ASTRALIA IN YE.
DON'T WORRY DING, IT WAS A GOOD WEEK ANYWAY
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