Robertson Through to First World Final
Neil Robertson beat Allister Carter 17-12 to become the first overseas player to earn a place in the World Championship final for twenty-eight years
The final session resumed with Robertson holding a very comfortable 15-9. The two middle sessions had ended 7-5 in Robertson's favour and built on the Aussies' big lead which had been earned in a blistering opening session to the match, which he won 6-2.
Carter, who had struggled to hold on to Robertson's shirt-tails throughout the match, wasn't going down without a fight and he opened the session with runs of 64 and 71 to keep his slender hopes alive.
As long as Robertson still needed two frames for victory, there was hope in the Carter camp. But it dimmed when The Australian took the third frame of the day with a yellow to pink clearance, after a thirty minute tussle in which both players had chances.
Carter took the next, to at least ensure the match would go beyond the final session, and disappoint some players who were waiting backstage on standby to do an exhibition should the match finish early.
On the resumption Robertson opened with 36 to gain the upper hand. Carter had one chance but couldn't convert it and Robertson add a further 35 to clinch victory.
Having celebrated some key frame victories during the match with a couple of Aussie roars, his victory celebration was somewhat muted.
But the Aussie was delighted with his performance and and not a little emotional over his achievement in reaching the final.
"It means an awful lot. I didn't know Eddie didn't reach a final at the Crucible. It's a very proud moment for me and for my country.
"I still think winning a ranking title is probably a better achievement but it's definitely my proudest moment.
"They might be showing it live in Australia. That would be really unbelievable. That gave me a lot of pressure coming in today. If it wasn't for Barry Hearn that wouldn't be happening. It's so exciting. Everyone back home is really excited.
"I just can't wait until tomorrow now.
"At 15-9 up the problem was that with such a big lead you get people wanting tickets for the final and so on. They don't understand .
"You can get too carried away, or start planning your day, and I had to just focus on getting the two frames I needed. I didn't mind, as long as I got to 16, if Ali won one or two frames.
"I was very relieived to get a good opening in that last frame.
"The important thing now is to try and rest up and chill out. I don't want to watch much of the other semi.
"It's very hard being so far from home. At some stage I wanted to fly my parents over, but the Volcano put an end to that.
"At 11-5 down to Gould, I thought it was good they didn't come, but now I'm in the final I'm thinking could I still get them here, but it's 24 hours travel.
"Everyone wants to see an Aussie get beat in sport!! Sometimes I have good support, but sometimes the overseas players don't get the same support as the Uk players.
"It's so easy too for the players who live here, they can just drive home. For me it's 24 hours to get home. That aspect is difficult for me.
"Even if I don't win the final, with all the Chinese boys coming through, I don't think it will be long before one of them does, and we'll have an international winner.
"As a boy snooker was really 'it' for me. At school I wasn't interested in anything else.
"My mum and dad have sacrificed so much, they spent so much money in trying to help me make it. They gave me everything to help fund me. Then I spent my life savings and I was cleaned out.
"I came back for a fourth time and I had £500 in my pocket. It's been really tough. Only a few people really know how hard it's been to get here.
Carter was full of praise for Robertson and not just for his trade mark long potting but also aserting that the Australian's safety game kept him in trouble.
The 'Captain' conceded that his poor first session, in all liklihood, cost him the match, and pinpointed the third frame of the match as a key moment.
"I was a bit tired after the long match the day before, but that didn't cost me, it was the third frame.
"Neil needed a snooker and he got it and too the frame. I was so angry I could have just smashed the place up.
"To be honest, my head just went for the rest of the session.
"I've had a pretty good season really. A final, other semi finals. I don't think I played that well here. On my form I'd have been glad to get to the semi finals, but having got there, I'm now disappointed not to go on to the final."
