Neil_Robertson (Photo by By DerHexer)
Neil Robertson boosted his hopes of winning the Champion of Champions snooker championships for the third time as he came from 2-0 down to beat Jak Jones 6-3 in the Group Four final.
Robertson lifted the trophy in 2015 and 2019 and is now into the semi-finals for the eighth time. He will take on Chris Wakelin on Friday evening for a place in the final in Leicester.
The Australian said: “I thought I played really solid stuff today. Against Jak, I was able to take the momentum and the match away from him, and my break-off caused him a few problems. I felt confident out there – every time I potted a red, I felt like I could clear the table, and that was the case today.
“I’m really happy to be back in another semi-final. I’m looking forward to facing Chris. I love the way he plays, and it’s great to see him doing well. He’s good for the game, so I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Championship League and British Open champion Jones made the stronger start to the group final, taking the first frame with a 32 clearance and the second with a break of 80. But he potted just one ball in the next three as Robertson fired breaks of 61, 62 and 130 to go 3-2 ahead.
Jones responded with a superb 133, the highest break of the tournament so far, to draw level, but Robertson’s run of 59 helped him regain the lead. Welshman Jones had a scoring chance early in frame eight but made only 24, and his opponent compiled three breaks in the 20s as he went 5-3 ahead. A run of 49 in the next helped Robertson past the winning post.
Earlier in the group semi-finals, Robertson was pushed hard by 18-year-old World Women’s Champion Panchaya Channoi. Playing in a televised match on the pro tour for the first time, Channoi won the opening frame before Robertson took three in a row with breaks of 58, 84 and 73. Channoi took the next on the final black and made a break of 45 in frame six, only for Robertson to clear with 80 for a 4-2 success.
Jones scored a 4-3 victory over last year’s runner-up Judd Trump, who lifted the trophy in 2021. Trump held leads of 2-0 and 3-2, making breaks of 89 and 75, but Jones fought back to 3-3 then made a 79 in the decider.
Day three brings Group Three, where Shaun Murphy faces Ronnie O’Sullivan in a blockbuster match-up and reigning World Champion Wu Yize takes on Chang Bingyu.
Murphy scores perfect ten to reach last four
Shaun Murphy won ten frames out of ten in Group Three as he whitewashed Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-0 and Chang Bingyu 6-0 to reach the semi-finals.
Murphy won this title in 2017 and is now into the semi-finals for the third time. He’ll face the winner of Group Two on Saturday evening in Leicester.
“It was a tougher day than it looked,” said the 2005 World Champion. “They were two contrasting matches. Ronnie and I really tried to outmanoeuvre each other. I thought it would be a safety affair, so I was surprised how that went. And no one knows the power of Chang Bingyu better than me. I only got one point against him at the Welsh Open, so I knew going into that match it would be tough, but I thought I played really well. He and his colleagues are the future of this sport.
“I’m ready for the semi-final match, whoever that is against. But it’s the Champion of Champions. It’s meant to be tough.”
In that Welsh Open meeting in February, Chang won 4-0 with four centuries and a 100% pot success rate. This time the Chinese player made numerous errors and Murphy took advantage. In the opening frame, Chang had a chance to clear from 54-40 down, but after potting the last red and then the blue, he snookered himself on the yellow. From the chance that followed, Murphy secured the frame, and from that point the Englishman dominated.
A tournament-high break of 142 and further runs of 107 and 78 helped world number seven Murphy stretch his lead to 5-0, and in frame six he made 70 then got the better of a safety battle on the last red to clinch the result.
Earlier, four-time winner of this event O’Sullivan was outplayed by Murphy, whose top break was 68. Chang came from 3-1 down to edge out Wu Yize 4-3. Crucible king Wu had chances in each of the last three frames, particularly the sixth when he missed the final black along the top cushion, leaving it in the pocket jaws. Chang potted it then took the decider on the colours.
Day four brings the final group, as world number one Zhao Xintong faces Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and the Masters champion Kyren Wilson takes on Ali Carter, with the last semi-final place up for grabs.
