Neil Robertson feels his appearance in the Dafabet Scottish Open final on Sunday will be a vindication of how well he has played in recent months. The Australian, world champion in 2010 and winner of all three of snooker’s Triple Crown titles, has slipped down the world rankings and won’t be in the field for next month’s Dafabet Masters in London as a result. Robertson has given himself the perfect chance to end 2017 on a high note after he set up a clash with Cao Yupeng in the Scottish decider. Robertson dashed home hopes on Saturday when he powered past four-time world champion John Higgins to win their semi-final 6-3.
It was a match that he led 4-0 and Robertson is happy with his game, suggesting his current ranking is not a reflection of how he has been playing. What he now wants is to find the consistency he is more than capable of showing. “The way I started in the first four frames [against Higgins] was probably the best I have ever played, in terms of who I was against and the occasion,” said Robertson. “With the hard work I have put in during the last couple of months I think I have taken my game to a new level. It is just about doing it on a consistent basis in tournaments. “I don’t think any player looks at my position in the rankings and says that is where I am at now. At the UK Championship it took a huge effort from Mark Joyce to beat me. The game is there and in the last two months it has been fantastic. My long potting has been really good and I think that is the most important thing. I needed to get back to being deadly and clearing when my hand is on the table.”
Robertson is 11/2 to defeat Cao 9-5 in the Scottish Open final, while the world number 67 is 7/2 to win in his first ranking event final. The ‘Thunder From Down Under’ won’t be underestimating his opponent. “I thought a few years ago that Cao Yupeng was going to be the next best Chinese player after Ding,” he added. “He tried to tweak with a few technical things and fell off the radar. It is good to see him back playing well. He has had a dream week to make a 147 and get to his first final.”
Dafabet Scottish Open odds available at Dafabet.