They last met in a final 10 years ago on the biggest stage of them all. One decade later and spells of great form are what it took for Neil Robertson and Graeme Dott to meet in another tournament final. The first of the Coral Cup Series was home to a dramatic final involving two veterans of the game who have done extremely well in the Grand Prix to get to this point. Let’s look at the match.

Breakdown

Robertson did well to take the opening frame with 55 despite unfortunately going in-off when screwing off a cluster of reds. Even though Dott couldn’t capitalise on this opportunity, he was able to punish a 63 break by Robertson in Frame 2 with 5 reds on the table as he made a 40 break, then stole on the colours. Dott continued showcasing his impressive potting, aided by a break of 56 to take the lead for the first (and only) time in the match. This was short-lived as Robertson initiated one of five century breaks (127) with a wonderful long pot from the baulk cushion.

Although Dott made a 47, Frame 5 was a steal for Robertson with help from a useful snooker behind the black. He followed this with a 110 consisting of a wonderfully controlled opening long pot. Frame 7 saw plenty of misses from both players but Robertson was able to clinch with a break of 58. When it seemed Robertson was going to run away with a 6-2 lead, he unluckily knocked a red in when splitting off the blue, ending his break at 40. Dott was able to salvage the rest of the frame to reduce his arrears going into the evening session 5-3 down.

Dott started the evening well taking the opening frame with a break of 62 even though Robertson was in first with 32. However, his poor break-off shot in Frame 10 led to a 107 from Robertson. It took two attempts for Robertson to make this century which Dott wasn’t able to take advantage. Dott did take advantage of Robertson’s misfortune in the next frame though, as he scored his match highest break of 88.

There wasn’t anything Dott could do about the three-frame onslaught he received from Robertson. A tournament high break of 142, as well as a 69 and 101 break in the following two frames saw Robertson extend his lead and comfort to 9-5. Surely it’s a formality at this point, right?

Robertson had his opportunity to win the title in Frame 15 after Dott faltered on a black. During Robertson’s break of 43, he slightly overran a shot off the green to not leave himself an easy pot. This minor blunder meant he had to take on a difficult red which he did pot, but left a tricky green which was overcut. Given the result of the match, this was a tremendous turning point in the evening session. Dott was able to keep himself in the match a little longer by making a 47 and pinching the frame. The war of attrition continued as Dott salvaged enough points to take another frame, making it 9-7.

Frame 17 was easily the best frame of the match – and of the reasons the final was incredible to watch. Dott was in first with a chance but then had to nestle behind the green at 21. Following a missed black from Dott, Robertson was able to capitalise with a break of 69. At 69-26 down, Dott required two four-point snookers to tie. He laid his first snooker perfectly behind the brown to snooker on the yellow – Robertson misses. Dott lays another snooker behind the brown, this time on the green – Robertson misses. Dott then laid another snooker behind the brown which Robertson was able to swerve around – first attempt Robertson over swerved; second attempt Robertson under swerved. Third time was the charm but left it over a pocket for Dott to pot. After a brilliant battle on the brown, Robertson plays a shot that even Hendry couldn’t decipher in commentary, which ultimately led to Dott taking the frame with an exceptional pot on the final black. Honestly, watch this frame.

In the final frame, Robertson had the first chance but missed a brown similar to the green he missed in Frame 15. Dott tried to scrap back as he had done all night but Robertson did manage to put an end to the match on the final red. Even though it wasn’t pretty, Robertson got the win at the end.

Afterthoughts

A brilliant final which almost saw a comeback similar to that of the China Championship where Murphy was 9-5 up against Williams who was able to force a decider. It had the breaks, it had the battles and it had the drama that kept audiences and viewers glued to their seats/televisions.

Dott has had a brilliant couple of weeks including a semi-final run in the German Masters one week earlier to this performance. One could wonder how someone managed to get 8 frames with only three 50+ breaks against a person who made 5 centuries. However, Dott has a remarkable ability to get himself into a frame even when the odds are stacked against him. His perseverance is championship-level and facial expressions are beyond even that. Much like players such as Ding and Maguire, Dott has found himself getting to later stages of tournaments and I doubt this is the last we’ll see of him.

Robertson was able to survive a scare on Sunday but his impressive win further cements that he and Trump are at the mountain top with the rest playing catch-up. If he played similarly in Germany, he likely would have secured the three-peat. Nevertheless, what an incredible performance as he makes 3 finals in 3 weeks while claiming 2 trophies. He has now amassed 18 ranking titles and comfortably reaches No. 2 in the world rankings.

This victory at the WGP also puts Robertson in good stead when it comes to claiming the £100,000 bonus available for the top performer at the Coral Cup events. Significant contributions in the Players and Tour Championships means that he could get up to £200,000 in prize money alone when added with the European Series. It seems that Trump and Robertson are the only ones that can stop each other but who will stop them from winning the rest of the season?