Neil Robertson v Mark King live stream | English Open 2021 preview
Neil Robertson looks to maintain his 100 per cent record against Mark King when the pair lock horns in the English Open semi-finals on Saturday.
Indeed, Robertson has prevailed in each of the five previous meetings between the left-handers.
A sixth straight victory over the former Northern Ireland winner would also preserve the Thunder’s unblemished record in Home Nations semi-finals, having won each of his three previous such matches.
The world number four is appearing at this stage of a ranking event for the 43rd time, and he has certainly earned the right to do so.
The 2020 runner-up twice came from behind to scrape past 2018 finalist Mark Davis in the fourth round.
He then recovered from a losing position on four occasions against Kyren Wilson in the quarter-finals, before a run of 70 in the decider ended a run of three straight defeats at the hands of the Warrior.
Robertson, who triumphed at the 2017 Scottish Open and 2019 Welsh Open, is now just two more wins away from joining Mark Selby on three Home Nations titles; a tally only bettered by Judd Trump.
Reigning champion Trump was dethroned by King, who enjoyed an impressive 5-3 win in the last eight.
The world number 54 ended the Ace’s streak of 10 straight wins against him – and 11 on the spin at this event.
King has also defeated Cao Yupeng, Tom Ford and teenage sensation Paul Deaville on the way to securing his first semi-final appearance at a ranking event since the 2018 European Masters.
The Romford cueist is appearing at this stage of a Home Nations tournament for only the second time, with his only previous venture culminating in him lifting the Alex Higgins trophy in Belfast five years ago.
The winner will take on four-time World Champion John Higgins in Sunday’s final.
Play gets underway at 7pm GMT on Saturday with the match contested over the best of 11 frames at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.