23.6.13

HIGGINS TO FACE ROBERTSON AGAIN

As it was in Sofia, so it is in Wuxi. Today’s final pits John Higgins against Neil Robertson.

Higgins hasn’t been pushed hard through the tournament but surely will be by Robertson, who has cued superbly throughout and did so again yesterday during his semi-final defeat of Robert Milkins.

The Australian went through a long spell in which he couldn’t lose a final. Last season for a while he couldn’t win one but did so at the China Open in Beijing and can today win back-to-back Chinese ranking titles.

Robertson needs to remain positive and keep attacking. If he gets drawn into a tactical game then Higgins will be favourite, as he would be against anyone in that sort of match.

It’s not easy for anyone to beat an in form Higgins over 19 frames but Robertson belongs in the small category that can.

A tournament which began with him forgetting to pack his waistcoat and trousers to go to Gloucester could end with an eighth ranking title.

For Higgins, it would mark his best start to a season since 2001/02, when he won the first three titles.

These two are proven winners capable of serving up a classic. Robertson has played the better snooker of the week but it is in the final where it really matters.

Thankfully this one is much longer than the best of seven they played in Bulgaria.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good first half.

Anonymous said...

great win for neil he is good enough to win another world championship at least and i would be surprised if he doesnt beat jimmy whites record of 10 ranking titles..I would like to see him win his home tournament the Australian open

Anonymous said...

And a good second half.

No impact of flat structure on this final

Anonymous said...

Of course not. The top 16 are the top 16 because they frequently beat top 32 players, so obviously most of them will beat top 128 players. The flat format won't have an adverse effect on the top 16—other than the inconvenience of playing qualifiers in Barnsley.