The worldnumber one, Australian Neil Robertson, has thrashed defending Masters Champion RonnieO’Sullivan 6-1 in the semi-finals to reach his third Masters final; the 32-yearold “Thunder from Down Under” was the 2012 Masters Champion and the 2013Masters runner-up.
The Mastersare played in Alexandra Palace in London and O’Sullivan, the “Rocket”, was the five-timewinner and five – time runner-up of the Masters; he first became the MastersChampion in 1995 when he defeated John Higgins.
The “Rocket”was struggling from the start of the semi-final match and was never reallysettled; Robertson grabbed his chance and put some pressure early doors.
The 2012 Champion won the first frame with acentury break and stole the next two with breaks in the sixties, thus creatinga 3-0 lead. In the fourth frame of thematch the “Rocket” replied with a ton of his own and made his 101 break. The 3-1 result gave a glimmer of hope beforethe mid-session interval, but O’Sullivan lost the following three frames in 6-1mauling.
This defeatput the end to the Rocket’s remarkable 15-match unbeaten run in rankingtournaments.
Robertson performedmagnificently and produced exceptionally high standard of snooker to beatO’Sullivan; the “Thunder from Down Under” was in the sort of potting mood thatsaw him winning frames with one visit to the table.
Althoughthe tournament finished for O’Sullivan, the five-time World Champion, theChampion of Champions tournament and the UK Championship set one record at the2015 Masters: earlier on in the week O’Sullivanbroke Stephen Hendry's record of 775 career centuries as he defeated Marco Fu,from Hong Kong, in the quarter – finals.
His 776th career centurywas made in the first frame.
Robertson isa century giant himself; he was the highest century-maker last year with over100 century breaks last season. In the finals theAustralian will face the winner of the other semi – final played between MarkAllen and Shaun Murphy. Will the “Thunderfrom Down Under” add to his 2012 triumph?
