Brilliant Davis retains world title

The St Leonards sensation won seven of the last eight frames to beat world number one Neil Robertson 8-4 in this afternoon’s (Saturday) final in Bangkok, Thailand.

Australian ace Robertson, playing in his fourth final this season, started well to open up a 3-1 lead only for Davis to reel off six frames in a row before sealing victory in the 12th.

Davis told www.worldsnooker.com: “There was no real pressure on me going into the match. I got a bit nervous in the last frame, but then got the chance I had been looking for. It was my safety that really worked well today and I am happy to have the claimed the title again.”

The 41-year-old Davis took the top prize of two million Baht (around £40,000). In fact, it was the world number 17’s third global title in the six-red format of the game having also won one in Killarney four years ago.

Davis won three matches and lost two in the group stage at the start of the week. He chalked up 5-3 wins over Thai amateur Issara Kachaiwong, Chinese professional Cao Yupeng and Moroccan amateur Chaouki Yousfi, but lost 5-2 to Welsh world number 20 Dominic Dale and 5-4 to English cueman Gary Wilson.

He scraped past Thai world number 62 Dechawat Poomjaeng 6-5 in the first knockout round before whitewashing sixth-ranked John Higgins 6-0 in the last 16. Davis ended the home hopes by beating Noppon Saengkham 6-4 in the quarter-finals and then saw off world number two Mark Selby 7-4 in the semi-finals.

Final result - Mark Davis 8, Neil Robertson 4: 0-75, 37-3, 1-42, 6-74, 66-0, 37-21, 58-1, 39-7, 43-0, 78-0, 0-77, 63-15.