Snooker: Robertson beats Selby to reach semi-finals

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01:17

Neil Robertson of Australia advanced into the semi-finals of the International Championship in Daqing, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, after coming from behind to defeat world number one and defending champion, England's Mark Selby, 6-4 on Thursday.

In the first frame, Robertson, whose only title so far this season came at the Riga Open, missed a long distance red which gave Selby the chance to come back to the table and go on a run of 137 to take the opening frame.

But then Selby started making unforced errors, allowing the world number 10 to return and level the score.

Mark Selby of England in action during the quarter-finals of World Snooker International Championship against Neil Robertson of Australia, Daqing, northeast China, November 1, 2018 /VCG Photo

Robertson then nailed a break of 135 in the third to go into a 2-1 lead. That only seemed to stoke the fires of the three-time world champion who then claimed the next three to re-take the lead and went 4-2 in front.

But the Aussie then went on the same streak to overtake his opponent and went within one frame of winning, a run of 119 being the highlight.

The Englishman looked set to level but missed this red and the chance to make it 5-5. And also didn't do himself any favors by snookering himself in the process.

Robertson arrived back and mopped up to upset the top ranked man 6-4, and set up a last four clash with England's Jack Lisowski.