Rocket misfires as Robertson wins

Australian beats 5-1 as he claimes his sixth ranking title at the World Open final in Glasgow.

World Champion Neil Roberston showed his class as he prevailed comfortably over Ronnie O’Sullivan in the World Open final in Glasgow. The Australian beat the Englishman, considered by many as the greatest player of all time, 5-1 as he claimed his sixth ranking title.

Robertson, who also climbed two places to become the world number one, capitalised on every mistake O’Sullivan made as the final, tipped to be a perfect showdown, turned out to an anti-climax. After losing the first two frames, a break of 72 gave O’Sullivan the third frame as he tried to comeback in the final. However, a slip in the fourth frame gave the Australia cueist the chance he needed as he hit a break of 59 to clinch the frame and go 3-1 up.

After the restart, O’Sullivan broke off but an unlucky cannon meant Robertson was let in and he responded with a break of 66. With world number one needing just one more frame to clinch the final, the Englishman fouled with two reds left after which there was no return for him to the table.

Robertson said that being the world champion, his game had transformed and he was honoured to beat O’Sullivan. “Being world champion has given me huge confidence, I go into finals knowing I can win under the most amount of pressure.”

Meanwhile, O’Sullivan, who also jumped two places to become the number four, was gracious after losing. “He’s world champion and world number one, and he dispatched me like world champions and number ones do,” said O’Sullivan.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2010.