Championship League snooker: Neil Robertson claims final victory over Kyren Wilson – ‘I’ve been unplayable at times’

Neil Robertson edged out Kyren Wilson in the final of Championship League Group 4 on Thursday evening with a 3-2 win in Leicester.

The 2010 world champion produced some fine scoring form as he rolled in breaks of 65 and a closing 54 to join Stuart Bingham, Chris Wakelin and Mark Selby in the winners’ group of the invitational event next month.

Wilson – who defeated the Melburnian 5-3 in the last 16 of last week’s German Masters in Berlin – made 137 and 85 to force the match to a deciding frame, but will have to content himself with a place in Group 5 when the tournament resumes on Friday.

Robertson also produced 99, 135 and 67 in a 3-0 win over Barry Hawkins in the semi-finals with 2020 world finalist Wilson running in 102, 76 and 76 in a 3-1 win over John Higgins in the other semi-final.

“I’ve been unplayable at times. I’ve changed my approach with how I’m playing the long balls by going back to playing pretty much plain ball,” said Robertson, who meets Jackson Page in his opening match at next week’s Welsh Open. “My long potting has never been better, and my scoring is fantastic as well.

“I think Barry only had five shots in the semi-final. The Championship League is always a great opportunity to get good match practice against top players. That’s what I’ve been able to do this week.

“To be able to build momentum, I’m really looking forward to next week now.”

Higgins had topped the group with four wins from six matches with Neil Robertson, Hawkins, Wilson, Ricky Walden and Jimmy Robertson all finishing on three points from six matches, forcing the standings to be settled on frames won.

Jimmy Robertson and Xiao Guodong were both eliminated with Higgins, Hawkins, Wilson and Walden in Group 5 as Dave Gilbert, Fan Zhengyi and Joe Perry join the action on Friday and Saturday.

The champion from each group qualifies for the winners’ group on March 1 and 2, with the other top four players continuing to Group 5 as the bottom two players are eliminated at the end of each group.

The winner of the Championship League also earns a spot in the Champion of Champions later this year.