Relieved Robertson scrapes into semi-finals - 18/11/2010

NEIL ROBERTSON has clinched the last play-off spot in the 2010 PartyCasino.com Premier League Snooker competition.

Robertson sealed his spot in dramatic circumstances as he beat Shaun Murphy 4-2 at Venue Cymru in Llandudno. If Robertson, who won the world title in May, had drawn or lost the match then the last place in the final four would have gone to Mark Williams.

However, breaks of 67, 116, 124 and 52 helped Robertson to the important victory. Two-time Masters Champion Mark Selby had blown his chance of qualification earlier in the night as he slumped to a 5-1 defeat against Ronnie O’Sullivan.

That opened the door for Robertson and he took his chance, despite only arriving at the venue 20 minutes before the start of the match after missing a train connection.

It is the second time in two years that Robertson has nearly missed the start of a Premier League match after only just arriving on time at Preston last year.

Neil Robertson

“This is a big wake-up call for me and I can’t ever do it again with this bad preparation,” admitted a relieved Robertson.

“I think it shouldn’t take to being in this position for me to produce my best performance ever in the Premier League.

“In some ways I didn’t deserve to get through due to my preparation. I’m delighted to have got through but this will give me a kick up the backside.

“I can’t wait for the finals weekend and I’ve said I would produce my best form if I got to the finals. I’m playing Ronnie O’Sullivan and it will be a fantastic match.”

The semi-finals take place at the Potters Leisure Resort in Norfolk on Saturday, November 27 with the final taking place the following day.

O’Sullivan was the only player to remain undefeated from the league phase and finished top of the table.

He will play Robertson in one semi-final with Marco Fu meeting Murphy, the reigning Premier League Champion, in the other.

Neil Robertson had been thrown a Premier League lifeline earlier in the night as Mark Selby had fallen to a 5-1 loss against Ronnie O'Sullivan.

It meant the equation was simple; a victory for Robertson against Murphy and Robertson would take the last spot while a draw or Murphy win would give Mark Williams the final play-off place.

Robertson, the current World Champion, nearly made a huge error before the match even started as he missed his connecting train from London to Llandudno and only arrived at the venue 20 minutes before the match started.

It was terrible preparation and similar to 2009 when he nearly missed the beginning of the action at the Preston Guild Hall.

Murphy took the opening frame by 56-17 but it was a scrappy affair with the highest break being only 21.

Robertson needed to win four of the remaining five frames and dug deep in the second as he made it 1-1 thanks to a break of 67.

An excellent break of 116 moved Robertson 2-1 ahead and we nearly had back-to-back centuries but Murphy missed the decisive green in the fourth after scoring 98.

With so much riding on the match, it was an encounter of high quality and Robertson regained the lead with an excellent 124 break. It meant the last spot of the play-offs would be decided by the last frame of the league phase. If Robertson won it then he would be in the semi-finals, if Murphy won it then Mark Williams would take the fourth spot.

Robertson made a break of 52, although he over cut the match-winning red to prolong the drama. Even an outrageous fluke from Murphy in potting a red into a pocket it was not intended for could not deny Robertson as he booked a semi-final place.

Shaun Murphy 2-4 Neil Robertson
Best of six frames - Murphy's scores first
56-17, 33-67 (Robertson 67), 0-116 (Robertson 116), 108-0 (Murphy 98), 0-124 (Robertson 124), 29-70 (Robertson 52)