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Neil Robertson battles past Wu Yize to end title drought at English Open

Jonathan Davies in English Open

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Neil Robertson v Wu Yize live stream | English Open 2024 Final preview

Robertson is back among the silverware after nearly two-and-a-half years (Photo credit: WST)

Neil Robertson won his first ranking title in over two years after withstanding Wu Yize’s valiant fightback to land the English Open crown.

The Australian eventually prevailed 9-7 to pocket the top prize of £100,000, having initially led 8-2 in what was a final of two halves at Brentwood Centre on Sunday.

Yize, the 14th Chinese player to contest a ranking final, hit two centuries and a further three breaks over 70 to threaten an almighty turnaround, but a fluked red paved the way for Robertson to get over the line with 55.

The 2010 World champion’s 24th ranking triumph was his first since lifting the 2022 Tour Championship 29 months earlier, while he also secured a return to the world’s top 16 at John Higgins’ expense.

“It was nice to get in off a fluke,” he told Eurosport. “It was probably the only way I was going to pot a ball to get a chance.

“It wasn’t looking good at one stage. You start thinking of runner-up speeches and how humble you’ll have to be after being 8-2 up.

“It means everything. My dad is here. He’s never even seen me play in a final before. That means the world to me.

“Also, this is the first tournament Joe [Perry] and I have won together since we’ve been working together this season.”

Robertson had dropped just five frames on the way to reaching his first ranking final in 29 months. He made a fast start with breaks of 75 and 71, before a 77 from 49-0 behind put him 3-0 to the good.

Yize, who dethroned reigning champion Judd Trump on the way to his maiden showpiece, had an opportunity to snatch the fourth frame from 62-0 adrift. But the occasion was clearly affecting him as he missed a green on 42, before falling 4-0 behind.

Robertson then threatened to steal frame five after overturning a 46-0 deficit to lead 57-46. However, the Australian missed the brown and a relieved Yize potted blue, pink and black to get on the scoreboard.

Nevertheless, he restored his four-frame buffer with 61, before back-to-back centuries of 104 and 138 put him well in command at 7-1 up.

Despite his hefty deficit, Yize appeared rejuvenated when the players returned for the evening session. Indeed, breaks of 127, 100 and 82 kept his faint hopes alive at 8-4.

The 20-year-old, who also beat the likes of Ali Carter and Stuart Bingham earlier this week, then continued his revival with runs of 73, 95 and 50 cutting the gap to just a single frame.

However, Robertson held his nerve and, after a fortuitous opening red, managed to scrape over the line for his second English Open triumph – making him the tournament’s joint-most successful player – and fourth Home Nations victory, which is only bettered by Trump’s tally of six.

And the now 24-time ranking event winner paid tribute to his opponent, with whom he shared a warm embrace after potting frame, match and championship ball.

“He’s very smart. He put me in more trouble with his safety than any other player this week,” Robertson observed.

“Then, he’s very aggressive when he gets in as well. He’s got a wonderful all-round game, he never gives in. I just had to try and think of all the positive thoughts out there.

“You do think: ‘he’s got to start missing eventually’. The problem was that he missed a couple, but they went in other pockets!

“He completely froze me out, he played the best snooker I’ve ever seen in a five or six-frame spell. I hardly did anything wrong. He played inspired stuff.”