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Australia's Neil Robertson claimed his third ranking event with a marathon 9-7 win over Matthew Stevens in the final of the Bahrain Championship.

The 26-year-old had previously won the 2006 Grand Prix and the 2007 Welsh Open but this was his first victory on foreign soil.

He scooped a winner's cheque of £48,000 while moving up the provisional rankings list in the process. Stevens picked up £22,500.

"I am absolutely over the moon," said Robertson.

"I have really enjoyed coming to Bahrain and to win the first tournament here is a real privilege. Hopefully this can be the start of something to build on."

This final had been billed as quite an attacking encounter between two in-form players.

But while the early signs were good the match got scrappy later on and went well into the early hours of Sunday morning local time. The total playing time was six hours, seven minutes and 56 seconds.

Robertson had looked on course to put Stevens well out of contention after notching two centuries and a 96 in his first three frames.

And the Australian was ready to take the fourth frame too but a missed a red down the side cushion, while using the rest, when he had a lead of 68-34.

It was frame ball but Stevens nipped in with a courageous break of 35 to pinch the last frame before the mid-session interval.

Robertson responded by notching a 75 break after the interval to take a 4-1 lead.

But Robertson was then forced to sit and watch Stevens give himself a real boost before the end of the first session.

The Carmarthen potter responded with 50 and 70 to make it 4-3.

"I came out at the start of the day and played absolutely incredible," continued Robertson. "I was disappointed to be 4-3 up."

Robertson then took the first frame of the evening session to regain a little bit of breathing space thanks to a break of 63.

But Stevens levelled the match at 5-5 after notching a 71 in the 10th frame.

The world number 10 then regained the lead for the second time in the match but Stevens responded with a fine 110 which was his highest break of the match.

Despite Stevens beginning the 13th frame with a solid half-century it transcended into a battle of safety and attrition.

It was the longest frame of the tournament, lasting 64 minutes, with Robertson desperately trying to get the snooker he required with brown, blue, pink and black left.

He could not manage it and Stevens led for the first time at 7-6.

Robertson hit back to level but had to do it with a nervy last black along the top cushion with the white ball tight on the side.

And he claimed the next to lead again at 8-7, putting himself within one frame of victory, with a 53.

It was the first time since winning the opening three frames of the match on the reel that the left-hander had claimed two frames in succession.

And he clinched the win with 56 in the last frame, saying: "I don't know how long it took me to make that 56 in the last but it seemed like forever.

"Matthew is a world-class player and it won't be long before he wins a tournament."

Sporting Life / Eurosport