Robertson Edges Out O'sullivan To Claim Saudi Title

Neil Robertson hit Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-9 successful a classical brushwood to declare nan Saudi Arabia Masters title successful Jeddah.

The Australian takes location £500,000 for nan 26th ranking title of his profession and climbs to 3rd successful nan world rankings.

It represents different immense measurement guardant successful Robertson's return towards nan apical of nan game.

The 2010 world champion started past play extracurricular nan apical 16 pinch his profession seemingly spiralling, earlier he enjoyed occurrence astatine nan English Open and World Grand Prix.

"Can't explicate what this intends successful words," said Robertson.

"I americium really gladsome I could beryllium portion of thing special. Coming into this tourney past twelvemonth I was 28th successful nan world looking astatine provisionally being 40-something. Hopefully my communicative tin animate younger generations to ne'er springiness up.

"You get ups and downs successful athletics and it is not astir really acold you fall, it is astir really acold you bounce. I deliberation this astir apt surpasses nan World Championship because I person had to reply a batch of questions.

"To hit Ronnie present pinch truthful overmuch connected nan statement is decidedly my champion ever."

O'Sullivan's consolation is simply a runners-up cheque of £200,000 positive £180,333, which amounts to a two-thirds stock of a £50,000 147 prize and £147,000 for compiling 2 maximum breaks crossed snooker's large 4 tournaments.

However, it was a communicative of what mightiness person been for seven-time Crucible victor O'Sullivan, and alleviation for Robertson who appeared successful complete power aft establishing a 6-2 lead successful nan opening session.

A break of 97 successful nan first framework successful nan evening extended Robertson's advantage but from location O'Sullivan, who was chasing a record-extending 42nd ranking title and his first for 19 months, looked irresistible.

O'Sullivan rattled successful nan 1,300th period of his profession pinch a 139 and made breaks of 97 and 89 successful 36 minutes to get backmost to 7-5.

And pinch nan momentum firmly pinch nan Englishman he enjoyed runs of 57 and 80 to level nan lucifer astatine 7-7.

"The measurement he came backmost - being successful this arena was astir apt nan past spot I wanted to be," added Robertson.

"It was unbelievable from 7-2 to 7-7 - I hardly did thing wrong."

Robertson took nan adjacent pinch a 75 but erstwhile O'Sullivan won nan 16th and 17th frames he appeared connected people for a grounds salary time successful a azygous event.

But a break of 101 from Robertson ensured a 19th framework for nan 2nd twelvemonth running, and he rounded disconnected a celebrated triumph pinch a 101 break.