The Final... Neil Robertson Beat Mark Allen 6-3 Beat Mark Williams 6-4 Beat Judd Trump 6-3 Shaun Murhpy Beat Martin Gould 6-2 Beat Mark Selby 6-2 Beat John Higgins 6-4 The final is the best of 19 with two sessions. This has the potential to being a classic match and final. Both players are playing in their first Masters Final and although they have both won a major trophy before winning a title for the first time can bring in the nerves and it will be interesting to see how both players cope with actually getting over the winning line. I cant wait for this match and i cant split them. But solely on his performance yesterday versus Higgins, and the constantly high quality of his snooker i am leaning towards Shaun Murphy. Robertson really dug in against Trump and there was just a touch of revenge in the air when he did eventually beat him, i just think that Shaun will come out of yesterdays games feeling slighlty better in mind. The new tip that Neil has put on looks like its bedded in but i do think that Murphy has enough to cope with the 'Thunder from Downunder'... Murphy to win 10-7
Well played Neil Robertson. Top match snooker form the Aussie to earn him the title of Masters Snooker Champion 2012. Not the classic blow for blow match i thought would happen but still some very good match play that Shaun Murphy had no answer for. Robertson took control of this final by taking a 5-3 lead after the first session, and never really looked back from there. Murphy who was so positive against John Higgins in the semi looked good again in the opening frames and at 3-3 the match was still very much open. But it was the 7th and 8th frames that settled the nerves for Neil and put Shaun on the back foot for the rest of this match. Shaun breaking sown in the 8th and then not punishing Neil for letting him back in tuned a 4-4 into a two frame defecit... Robertson has grown up since his World title win and maybe struggling to hear his name with the tag of World Champion every time he stepped out to play. He might have felt under pressure to show what he is made of. But not now. He is back to playing his best snooker and looks every bit the man to beat for the rest of the year. Murphy is no slouch and would give all players a run for their money but he had no answer to Neils consistant break building and his accurate saftey shots. There was a calmness to his game and it showed through when he had his first chance to win frame and match, which he took with a wonderfully crafted 70 break Murphy was obviously disappointed but he had no need to be. He has played some of the best snooker in this tournament and will take alot out of this for the rest of the season. The PTC's have made him a tough match player combined with his ability to make the big frame winning breaks he will win a big tournamnet soon, thats for sure. As for Robertson, well be will probablly be made favourite for the Worlds coming up in May, and im sure he will be comfortable with that. He has the snooker world at his feet now and can now aim to be the first overseas double Would Champion. Congratulations to Neil Robertson, a worthy winner of the 2012 Masters Championship...
I have to say that was a great match. I am not usually interested in snooker as i find it slow and dull. However, the characters such as Neil Robertson and Judd Trump are bringing it to life and making it much more watchable. I am at uni in Cambridge, a stones throw from where Robertson trains so i always find myself wanting him to do well. He is such a likable guy and is so humble too. His rivalry with Trump could be a great one over time. Bad luck to Murphy, he played well, but Robertson was in impeccable form.
