Neil Robertson moved a step closer to securing his third Grosvenor Casinos Champion of Champions title with a hard-fought 6-4 victory over World Number One Judd Trump on Wednesday evening at Bolton’s Toughsheet Community Stadium.
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The two-time Champion of Champions winner Neil Robertson faced Ali Carter in the second match of Group Three, with Robertson coming out strong, taking the first two frames with runs of 84 and 90. Carter managed to close the gap in the third frame, but Robertson responded with his 961st career century to move within one frame of the group final. Carter staged an impressive comeback to level at 3-3, but Robertson ultimately clinched the match with an 87 break, setting up an evening showdown with World Number One.
Judd Trump earned his spot in the group final after delivering a commanding whitewash against recent International Champion Ding Junhui. Trump set the tone with a swift total clearance of 127 in the opening frame, igniting an unstoppable performance that saw him take a 3-0 lead. Ding showed signs of a comeback in the fourth frame but missed a critical blue over the pocket, allowing Trump to enter the next stage to meet Robertson.
Trump took an early lead in the final after Robertson inadvertently potted the cue ball off the blue. But Robertson quickly responded with a run of 90 to level at 1-1. A clearance of 84 in the third frame put Robertson ahead, and he extended his lead when Trump missed a black on the spot in the fourth. Trump then mounted a counterattack, reducing the gap in the fifth and levelling the match after a tense safety exchange on the yellow in the sixth frame.
Despite leaving a red on the edge of the pocket, Robertson maintained his composure, reclaiming the lead in the seventh after Trump missed a bank shot. The Thunder from Down Under extended his advantage once again in the eighth frame after a lengthy safety duel saw Trump miss a difficult double bank shot on the pink.
Trump capitalised on Robertson’s errors in the ninth to stay in contention, but Robertson held firm in the tenth. After an intense back-and-forth, a crucial miss on the brown by Trump opened the door for Robertson, who swept up to secure his place in the semi-finals and move one step closer to his third Champion of Champions title.
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