Masters: Neil Robertson faces Shaun Murphy in final after beating Ronnie O'Sullivan
Last Updated: 21/01/15 11:53am
Neil Robertson crushed Ronnie O'Sullivan and will play Shaun Murphy in Sunday's Masters final at Alexandra Palace.
Robertson, who produced what he described as one of the best performances of his career in beating Ali Carter 6-1 in the previous round, handed O’Sullivan his first semi-final defeat in the competition after 10 successive wins.
"I am really happy with the way I played. Ronnie was struggling but I put him under pressure early on," Robertson said.
"When he made mistakes, I had to capitalise - that was the key. He never seemed to settle."
When Neil plays like he has done this week, he is almost unbeatable. It is my job to try and find a nick somewhere
Shaun Murphy
'The Rocket', looking for his sixth triumph in the event, found himself in trouble early on as his Australian opponent took the opening frame with a century and he then snatched the second after O'Sullivan missed a frame-ball black.
That became 3-0 before O'Sullivan finally showed what he was capable of with a 101 break in the fourth frame - the highest clearance of the match and the 777th century of the Englishman's record-breaking career.
However, Robertson hit back with a 58 break to go 4-1 up and there was no way back for an under-par O'Sullivan, with the world number one reeling off the final two frames to complete a 6-1 drubbing.
Robertson will now go in search of his second Masters victory and a first title since the 2014 Wuxi Classic against Murphy who overcame a sluggish start to power past a stunned Mark Allen.
Northern Ireland's Allen had scrapped his way into the semi-finals and looked good in the evening's first two frames with an 83 guiding him to a 2-0 lead.
But Murphy soon took total control and an 80 levelled the match at 2-2 at the interval.
The 2005 world champion looked like a man inspired and knocks of 76 and 102 got him to within one of the finish line and despite going in-off handing Allen a lifeline, Murphy jumped back in to seal a stunning 6-2 win.
Murphy said: "It does mean so much to have another crack in the final. When Neil plays like he has done this week, he is almost unbeatable. It is my job to try and find a nick somewhere."
Murphy and Robertson will now compete for the top prize of £200,000 on Sunday in a repeat of the 2012 final.