Zhao Sees Off Robertson To Clinch Riyadh Title

World champion Zhao Xintong claimed a 5-2 triumph complete Neil Robertson to clinch nan Riyadh Season Snooker Championship.

Zhao becomes nan 11th different victor from 11 events connected nan master circuit this play and collects £250,000 for his occurrence successful Saudi Arabia.

While nan opening 2 frames were shared, Zhao past compiled superb breaks of 131 and 134 arsenic he reeled disconnected nan adjacent 3 to unfastened a 4-1 lead.

And moreover though Robertson crafted a 91 to trim his arrears, nan 28-year-old from China sealed his triumph pinch a half-century successful nan seventh frame.

"I didn't want Neil to cognize I was nervous. I was looking guardant to this last a batch because Neil is simply a very bully subordinate and personification I wanted to play. I americium truthful happy now," Zhao said.

"It's been astonishing this week. It's my first clip successful Saudi and I could spot a batch of group were present for me."

It proved to beryllium a comfortable conclusion to Friday for Zhao, who had earlier edged to a melodramatic 4-3 triumph complete world number 1 Judd Trump successful nan semi-finals.

In a see-saw title Trump led 2-0 and 3-2 but Zhao, who registered nan highest break of nan week pinch a 138 against nan Englishman, showed his resolve.

Meanwhile, Robertson, who has looked rejuvenated complete nan past 18 months, had been aiming to go nan only subordinate this play to triumph aggregate titles aft defeating Mark Allen 4-1.

"A fewer tired misses I suppose were rather costly [against Zhao]. I was good beneath nan level I had shown successful getting to nan last and he punished maine really well," Robertson said.

The Australian progressed past Allen pursuing a awesome 73 clearance successful nan 5th frame.

That was aft nan Northern Irishman had knocked successful 9 reds pinch blacks but collapsed down connected 72 arsenic he attempted to make a 147 - he could person past potted nan unsocial 20-point aureate shot for a 167 break and $1m (£763,000) bonus.