Neil Robertson takes 7-1 lead against Wu Yize during dominant display in afternoon session of English Open final
By Jonny Bray
Published 22/09/2024 at 18:15 GMT+1
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Neil Robertson and Wu Yize are battling it out in the English Open final at the Brentwood Centre. Wu booked his place in the final with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Ishpreet Singh Chadha while Robertson progressed after beating Chris Wakelin in the semi-finals. Australian star Robertson is currently leading 7-1 ahead of the evening session on Sunday.
What a pot! Robertson turns on the style in first frame
Video credit: TNT Sports
Neil Robertson took a commanding 7-1 lead against Wu Yize during an impressive afternoon session at the English Open final.
Roberton had conceded only five frames on his way to the final and continued his dominance as he hit the ground running in Sunday’s showdown.
The Australian put together an opening knock of 75, helped by a stunning long red which he fired across the table and into the yellow pocket for the opener.
Ahead of the match, in-house master of ceremonies Rob Walker informed viewers that 20-year-old Wu was born five years after Robertson turned professional in 1998.
A re-rack was required after a slow start to the second frame and those inside the Brentwood Centre finally saw some action when Wu crashed in a red to split the pack only for the cue ball to drop into the green bag.
That was enough for Robertson, who stepped up to a table littered with reds and put together a break of 71 to double his advantage.
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Wu got his eye in with two terrific reds at the beginning of frame three and he looked on course to build a substantial lead, but crucially missed a simple red to right middle.
The relentless Robertson stepped in again, moving three frames ahead with a third consecutive 70+ break, this time producing 77.
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Robertson hits superb double red pot in fourth frame of English Open final
Video credit: TNT Sports
Robertson started to race away in the fourth frame and played a fantastic cannon to seize control.
Wu showed his temperament to claw his way back and reduced the deficit, but needed a snooker.
He keept in the frame but with pink and black remaining, Robertson sent the pink down for a 4-0 lead.
The fifth frame felt like deja vu, as Wu raced ahead with a fine break but then left a red in the jaws.
Robertson returned to the baize and after the form he had shown to that point, it seemed a formality that he was going to overturn the deficit for a fifth frame.
He cleared the reds, sent down a brilliant green but then squandered two golden chances to put the frame to bed. This time, Wu delivered a blow of his own to finally get on the board and reduce Robertson’s lead to three.
Wu's resurgence did not last long as Robertson produced a break of 61 to take the sixth frame and a 5-1 lead.
The Australian followed that up with a break of 104 on his way to winning the seventh frame.
Robertson was by now full of confidence and a session-high break of 138 moved him into a 7-1 lead at the interval in the race to nine.
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