Welcome To Poole
Related Articles
Neil Robertson claimed his second Masters title with a 10-4 win over Barry Hawkins at Alexandra Palace.
The 39-year-old Australian, a 2012 champion, dominated after Hawkins suffered a bout of bad luck in the fifth period with the score at 2-2.
Hawkins fouled the green with his sleeve and Robertson, who took advantage of a free ball to clear and take the frame, never looked back to claim the £250,000 winner’s prize.
Neil Robertson won the @CazooFR Masters, beating Barry Hawkins 10-4 in the final #CazooMasters @nr147 pic.twitter.com/4TRDVYy1kc
— Billiards World Tour (@WeAreWST) January 16, 2022
“I’m so happy to win this wonderful title again,” Robertson told BBC Sport as he held his young daughter Penelope in his arms.
“It was my first title that I won after the birth of (his) Alexander.
“I always wanted a mini-rehearsal with Penelope here too. She’s about the same age actually, so I’m happy for that.
Robertson needed two snookers in the final frame of his classic semi-final against Mark Williams to advance to his fourth Masters final.
He managed to do so to complete a 5-3 down fightback to win the best encounter of 11
Robertson said: “I was disappointed when we went into lockdown again and it’s so fantastic to hear London cheering again for a snooker tournament.
“I tried to forget about it (the semi-final) and get back to playing Barry.
“Then I got about 300 text messages from people saying they had never seen anything like it.
“Every person I met walking into the room said, ‘What about yesterday?’
“I said, ‘Hey, I’m trying to forget that and focus on the final.'”
Hawkins had the majority of support in the sold-out crowd, but the Englishman appeared nervous in the first session.
Robertson took a two-frame advantage in the interval after making breaks of 50, 105, 54, 54 and 73, while Hawkins’ highest break was 60.
Hawkins won the opening frame, but it was the only time Robertson trailed in what became an increasingly one-sided finale.
Robertson extended their lead to 6-3 just after the restart before a 69 break gave Hawkins hope of a comeback.
But Robertson took the lead with a break of 68 and a simple error from Hawkins on a black in the next frame saw the Aussie take an 8-4 lead in the halftime interval.
Robertson compiled a second-century break, a game-best 114, in the next frame, and he quickly wrapped up the victory to begin the celebrations with his wife Mille and young family.
