UK Snooker Championship 2020: Neil Robertson beats Mark Selby to reach semi-finals

Betway UK Championship
Dates: 23 November to 6 December Venue: Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button, BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app from Saturday, 28 November.

In-form Neil Robertson outclassed Mark Selby 6-2 to reach the semi-finals of the UK Championship in Milton Keynes.

Selby failed to pot a ball in the first two frames and Robertson made breaks of 75, 122 and 63 for a 3-0 advantage.

Selby pulled two frames back but Australia's Robertson crucially cleared up with 56 to go 4-2 ahead and followed it up with 91 and 130 for victory.

Robertson will face Zhou Yuelong next after the Chinese player defeated Englishman Jack Lisowski 6-4.

World number 25 Zhou made high breaks of 99 and 69 to reach the last four of a Triple Crown event for the first time, and now comes up against Robertson who demolished him 9-0 in the European Masters final in January.

World number one Judd Trump faces Kyren Wilson and China's Lu Ning plays Joe Perry in the evening session.

How to watch the UK Championship live across the BBC

Sublime Robertson close to perfection

A repeat of the 2013 final was expected to be a close contest but world number three Robertson was sublime when in the balls to take apart Leicester's Selby with two centuries and three further 50-plus breaks.

The sixth frame was pivotal. Selby had a chance to level at 3-3 but lost position on a red and Robertson countered by clearing the table, before taking the next two to advance.

Two-time champion Robertson told BBC Two: "It was really good, especially the first three frames - it was pretty much perfect. I did not have many chances in the next two but knocked in an unbelievable red followed by two big breaks. My long game today was really good.

"I forced him into making mistakes. Sometimes you can play Mark Selby with really good safety and not put him into trouble but I felt I played better safety shots and put him under pressure."

Selby added: "I didn't really have a chance. The first three games I barely potted a ball and he was fantastic. The sixth frame was a big turning point and if the kiss goes right I would be 3-3."

Asked whether Robertson could go on to win the title, Selby replied: "Most definitely if he plays like that. At the interval he had 100% pot success, 100% long pot success and 100% safety success and that is impossible to beat. It is unfortunate for me I was on the end of it."

'Robertson will take some stopping' - analysis

Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry on BBC Two:

"That will give Robertson great satisfaction to finish with a century. He will be very pleased with himself and cannot play better than that. He knows it is not job done as he still has two matches to go and he is all about titles. He will enjoy that result tonight and get back to work tomorrow.

"It shows you the fine line between stellar players, Selby could have gone 3-3 but sat in his chair after that mistake.

"Judd Trump seems to have the answer against anyone these days - whatever they throw at him he can raise it more. Robertson played perfect snooker though and that is hard to beat."

1991 world champion John Parrott:

"Robertson will take some stopping on that performance. That is one of the best exhibitions in long potting I have seen. It was phenomenal. He scored brilliantly and you cannot play better than that.

"That was an awesome performance and as good as anyone has played in this tournament."

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