September 23rd 2024.
Neil Robertson faced a tough challenge from 20-year-old Wu Yize in the English Open final on Sunday night. Despite slipping to a 7-1 lead against the former world champion, Wu showed incredible resilience and skill in the evening session, winning six out of seven frames with impressive breaks. Eventually, Robertson managed to hold on and win the 16th frame, securing his 24th ranking title, but his first in over two years.
After the intense scoring from Wu, Robertson admitted to being relieved to lift the trophy, especially with his family present and thanks to his friend and mentor Joe Perry. He praised Wu for his spectacular snooker and acknowledged that he was "completely frozen out" during the young Chinese player's brilliant five or six frame spell.
For Robertson, this victory holds a special significance as it is the first time his father has been able to watch him play in a final in his 20-year professional career. He also credits his success to working with Joe Perry and hopes to achieve many more firsts in the future.
While Wu may have come up short in the final, his performance throughout the tournament was impressive, defeating top players like Judd Trump, Stuart Bingham, and Ali Carter. Former Masters champion Alan McManus has been a fan of Wu's for a few years and sees shades of four-time world champion John Higgins in his game.
In their previous meeting at the Crucible in 2023, Robertson believes that Wu has significantly improved in all aspects of his game and has become a more well-rounded player. The Australian also praised Wu for his aggressive and smart gameplay, noting that he caused him more trouble with his safety shots than any other player in the tournament.
Robertson's win in the English Open final also had a significant impact on the rankings, as he climbed back into the top 16, pushing John Higgins out of the elite group. While it is a historic moment for Higgins, who had maintained a top 16 spot for 29 years, he did achieve a remarkable milestone in the tournament by reaching 1000 career centuries. However, he will have the opportunity to reclaim his top 16 spot with a good run in the British Open this week, starting with a match against Ross Muir on Monday night.
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