Robertson fights back to take title (original) (raw)
Neil Robertson fights back to take UK Championship crown
Updated / Monday, 9 Dec 2013 07:38
Neil Robertson
Neil Robertson recovered from a dismal start to beat Mark Selby 10-7 in the williamhill.com UK Championship final and complete snooker's triple crown.
Selby, who on Saturday made snooker's 100th official maximum as he won his semi-final against Ricky Walden 9-5, opened the final with a 130 and pulled away into a commanding 5-1 lead.
But world number one Robertson crucially took the last two frames of the afternoon session and back-to-back centuries brought him level at 6-6.
He won the next two frames as well and pinched the 16th on the black to move within a frame of victory, which he completed with a 57 break.
The Australian, ranked world number one, becomes only the eighth player to win the World, UK and Masters titles.
Robertson told BBC Sport: "When I beat John Higgins earlier this year in the Wuxi Classic, I said that was the best I'd ever played in a final but the second session tonight was definitely the best I've played in a final.
With Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, Ronnie O'Sullivan, John and Alex Higgins, Terry Griffiths and Mark Williams having won the triple crown, Robertson is the first overseas player to achieve the feat.
And, after appearing to wipe away tears shortly after his win, he said: "To become the first overseas player to win all three, Ding Junhui and I basically turned pro at the same time 10 years ago and to get it ahead of him is a fantastic achievement.
"I'm sure he'll get there some day as well, but to be the first is a fantastic feeling."