The final of the 2015 dafabet Masters tomorrow will be a rematch of the 2012 title decider as Neil Robertson takes on Shaun Murphy for the top prize of £200,000
Robertson will no doubt start that match as a warm favourite to collect his second masters title after his 6-1 demolition of Ronnie O'Sullivan in the first of today's semi finals.
In what was one of the seasons most eagerly anticipated clashes,the question was could Robertson reproduce the high standard he had displayed against Carter in the previous round,Well we got the answer to that in the very first frame as his knocked in a century to lead 1-0.
It was over to Ronnie now to see if he could reply and he was well on course to do so until,on a break of 63,he played a needless cannon into the pack on frame ball black,missed it & Robertson dished with 66 to nick it and go 2-0.
In hindsight this was probably the deciding moment in this match as Robertson hammered home his advantage to take the next to lead it 3-0.
Ronnie did manage to get on the scoreboard in the next with a 101 of his own,but any thoughts of a comeback quickly disappeared when he missed a mid range red in the first after the interval & Robertson dished again to go 4-1. The last two frames of the match were a little scrappier with Neil missing an odd one,but as is so often the case when things are not going your way,none of these mistakes were giving Ronnie anything that would allow him to get any rhythm going.
The end came in frame seven courtesy of a 60 break from Robertson to give him a famous victory.
For Ronnie then he will have to wait at least another year to equal Hendry's total of six masters titles,but for Robertson his thoughts can now turn to the best of 19 final and a clash with Shaun Murphy
Just as last night it was his opponent who got off to the better start taking the opening two frames to lead 2-0,indeed Allen was well in again in the next,but a kick on the blue allowed Murphy his first real chance and he took it to clinch his first frame,before also taking the next to go to the interval at 2-2.
When they returned Murphy upped a gear again taking command of the match to take the next three with breaks of 83,76 &102 and the end was not far away as Murphy did what he needed in the next to secure a 6-2 win.
As I said above Robertson will start a short price to claim his second Masters crown,but he will have to be at his very best to beat a Shaun Murphy who is high on confidence this season and added to that the carrot of joining the exclusive club who have won all three of the sports "Majors",I just have a feeling it may be Shaun's year,Anyway,all will be revealed tomorrow in what promises to be another classic.
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