Robertson loses out in final frame decider

The semi-final line-up at the Crucible for this year's World Snooker Championships was completed by Barry Hawkins yesterday evening. His emotional final frame victory over the Aussie Neil Robertson ensured an all-English last-four in Sheffield. Only the 2005 champion Shaun Murphy remains in the tournament from the previous winners that were involved this year, although both Hawkins and Judd Trump have been runners-up in the past.

The pairings for the best of 33 frames semi-finals will be:

Shaun Murphy v Barry Hawkins

Judd Trump v Stuart Bingham

Hawkins 13-12 victory over Robertson was a tense tussle right to the very end.

He was clearly delighted at the finish, clenching his fist and celebrating in the final frame once he knew that the frame was secured. He seems determined to emulate his performance from 2013 when he lost in the final to Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Robertson deserved praise for fighting back in a match that he had seemed to lose his way in at one stage, despite a promising start from the Antipodean former champion. After establishing an early 3-1 lead including a break of 115, Robertson inexplicably lost his form to relinquish the next 6 frames in succession.

The Aussie managed to regain his composure though and levelled the match at 7-7, thanks to a marvellous 130 break. Both players continued to score heavily as the lead alternated right up to 12 frames apiece.

It was Hawkins who proved the stronger in the decider, to claim his last-four spot. It was tough on Robertson, as both players shared eight centuries in an enthralling contest.