Robertson beats Selby for China Open title

Beijing, April 1 (IANS) Neil Robertson of Australia beat Mark Selby in the final of China Open snooker event to win his seventh ranking title and the first since the 2010 World Open.

Robertson withstood the pressure in the 16th frame after several safety exchanges to registered a 10-6 hard-fought victory Sunday over Selby in the season’s penultimate world ranking event.

Selby, who is set to regain the world number one ranking from Judd Trump next week, white-washed Robertson 100-0 in the opening frame, but Robertson took the next six frames in a row for a 6-1 lead in the afternoon session, Xinhua reports.

However, Selby fought back after the interval by winning three frames with top runs of 81, 125, 66 and made it 6-4.

Robertson extended his lead to 9-4 with top breaks of 110 and 90. Selby made a cool 116 in the 14th frame to pull one back. In 15th frame, Robertson ran out of position when potting a red and Selby stepped in to save the second match point with a break of 63. Robertson finally denied Selby’s chance in the last frame.

Selby failed to take the China Open title for the second time as the Leicester cueman was defeated by the eventual champion Judd Trump two years ago. But he has already won the UK Championship, the Masters and two PTC events this season.

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