SNOOKER: Mark Allen loses out to Neil Robertson in semi-finals of Welsh Open

Robertson, the 2007 champion, held his nerve to hold off the challenge of Antrim cue star Allen.

The world number three had trailed 2-0 but won the crucial third frame after a foul by Allen.

Robertson then won five consecutive frames to lead 5-2 and withstood a comeback by Allen to reach the final.

“The first part of the match I wasn’t quite with it, making a couple of half awkward mistakes and letting Mark in,” Robertson told BBC Sport.

“The turning point was the foul and then scoring 65 in the third frame, otherwise I would have gone 3-0 down. After the interval I came out and played brilliantly.”