Aussie Robertson reaches UK snooker semis

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This was published 12 years ago

Aussie Robertson reaches UK snooker semis

Australia's Neil Robertson has advanced to the semi-finals of the UK Snooker Championships after the former world champion beat China's Ding Junhui 6-2 on Thursday.

Robertson, world champion in 2010, was locked at 2-2 with two-time UK winner Ding at the mid-session interval.

But the left-hander then won the next four successive frames, later saying his enjoyment of high-stakes matches had helped propel him to this victory in snooker's second most important event.

"When there is more riding on the match I tend to play a lot better," Robertson said.

"I just love winning tournaments and playing in semi-finals and finals, and today I felt so confident and was convinced I was going to win."

Robertson will now face Judd Trump after the Englishman, beaten in this year's World Championship final by John Higgins, defeated Scotland's Stephen Maguire 6-3.

Trump, echoing Robertson's comments, told the BBC: "When I am out there now I just feel so confident in front of the cameras.

"Last season I just did not want to be out there but now I'm just trying to get as much TV coverage as possible and get used to it," said the 22-year-old from Bristol, south-west England.

Trump, who beat former world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-5 in the second round, added: "I'm probably practising the least amount I have all season but playing the best. I'm just trying to enjoy myself off the table and completely forget about snooker."

In the day's other quarter-finals Mark Allen beat Hong Kong's Marco Fu 6-5 while Ricky Walden defeated former world champion Shaun Murphy 6-3.

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Meanwhile, Ali Carter appeared to pull back from his stated intention to retire at the end of the season.

Following his 6-2 second-round loss to Allen on Wednesday, Carter told his Twitter followers: "Going to retire at the end of the season! And I can't wait!

"I'm dead serious, life is too short to do something you don't enjoy, 25 years is enough! Pastures new...."

However, the former World Championship finalist said on Thursday: "Thanks for all your messages. Maybe I should have kept my thoughts to myself!

"They were obviously in the heat of the moment but I also genuinely have some serious thinking to do about my future at the end of this season and what direction I want to head," added the Englishman.

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