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Neil Robertson grounds Rocket Ronnie O'Sullivan at Players Championship

Neil Robertson also beat Ronie O'Sullivan in last month's Masters
Neil Robertson also beat Ronie O'Sullivan in last month's Masters

Neil Robertson reached the semi-finals of the Cazoo Players Championship with a 6-3 victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Masters champion Robertson took a grip on the match by winning three consecutive frames for a 4-1 lead in Wolverhampton.

Robertson was quick out of the blocks with a 79 break before the six-time world champion replied with a 98.

The Australian then punished the careless O’Sullivan with breaks of 52, 82 and 80 either side of the interval.

O’Sullivan responded with a 90 break in the sixth frame and reduced the deficit to one after Robertson had missed the final red down the cushion.

But Robertson, runner-up in this tournament in 2012, 2013 and 2019, kept his composure to get over the line and boost hopes of winning the Players Championship for the first time.

Barry Hawkins booked a semi-final date with Ricky Walden by beating Yan Bingtao 6-5.

Yan made three century breaks, including 139 and 103 to open up a 2-0 lead, but the game swung one way and then the other.

Hawkins hit back with three half-centuries in a row – 86, 77 and 95 – to lead, but Yan responded and was one frame from victory after knocking in a brilliant 132 break.

In a high-quality contest, Hawkins countered with a 126 break and seized on Yan missing a long red to compile a match-winning 73.

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