Neil Robertson is through to the semi-finals of the inaugural Tour Championship in Llandudno after fighting back to beat Mark Selby 9-8 on Tuesday.

The Australian, whose fiance Mille gave birth to their second child just a couple of days ago, looked on course for an early exit from the competition as he trailed world number one Selby 6-2 after the opening session.

However, the 2010 world champion showed great battling spirit when the action resumed on Tuesday evening, winning six of the next eight frames to level the match up at 8-8 and force a decisive final frame.

Not many people could have predicted just how dramatic that final frame was, as it went down to a final black and Selby came within inches of sealing the win when his attempted double cannoned out of the jaws of the middle pocket. That allowed Robertson the opportunity to win the match, which he duly took, and he will now return to Venue Cymru on Friday for his semi-final showdown against either Mark Allen or Kyren Wilson.

The 37-year-old, who is priced at 4.50 to go on and win the tournament, admitted after his victory that he thought he was destined for an early exit and he now plans to spend a couple of days with his family before returning to action on Friday.

“I certainly didn’t look like winning at 6-2 down. I just had to come out fighting tonight,” the world number eight was quoted as saying on the world snooker website.

“Mille gave birth a couple of days ago, so my mind was elsewhere many times today. I just thought if I got beat it would be alright and I could go home and get ready for the China Open. However, I have always got that belief in me.”