Snooker: Haotian, 14, beaten by Robertson

Neil Robertson will tackle his fellow former world champion Shaun Murphy in the semi-finals of the International Championship in Chengdu after beating a 14-year-old Chinese player.

The Australian left-hander put a halt to Lu Haotian’s run, recovering from 2-1 behind to win through 6-2 against the player who knocked out Dominic Dale in the second round.

“It was strange playing someone so young,” said 30-year-old Robertson, Crucible champion in 2010. “It made me feel really old.

“I had to use all of my experience, especially in the close frames. I won two on the black otherwise it could have been 
different. Lu has got a tremendous future.”

Murphy, world champion in 2005, was 3-1 behind against Marco Fu, but won through 6-4 with a best break of 129.

Judd Trump booked his place in the other semi-final against Peter Ebdon by edging 
out Mark Allen in a thrilling 
6-5 victory.

Trump, who has not won a ranking title since York last 
December, was on the brink of victory at 5-3.

However, Allen hit back to level at 5-5, forcing the world 
No 2 to compose himself and see out the final frame.

Ebdon, in contrast, had a far more straightforward passage into the last four with a 6-0 win over Ricky Walden.