Stevens to face Robertson

Stevems: Bahrain final

It's my first final for a while. It has been a tough couple of years but I've been working hard, I started in June this season, a couple of months early.

Matthew Stevens
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Matthew Stevens and Neil Robertson will meet in the Bahrain Snooker Championship final.

Stevens progressed courtesy of a fine 6-4 victory over Stephen Hendry, while Robertson joined him by seeing off Mark Allen by the same scoreline later on Friday.

Welshman Stevens rattled in two centuries - 120 and 116 - in the opening three fames to move 2-1 ahead.

Although just one more half-century followed from Stevens, Hendry could only muster a top break of 51.

Stevens made it 3-1 before Hendry's solitary break of note reduced the arrears, but his opponent responded immediately to restore a two-frame lead at 4-2.

Even Stevens

Seven-time world champion Hendry took the next two to level the match at 4-4, but Stevens dug deep as the pressure mounted to hit a 61 to go back in front again.

Stevens held his nerve to take the 10th frame and seal a 6-4 victory that puts him through to the final, where he will try and add a second ranking event title.

"It was a scrappy match, apart from the two frames where I made centuries," said Stevens, who will play in his seventh ranking event final.

"It's nice to beat Stephen no matter how the match went, my safety was good but I kept expecting Stephen to start playing and he didn't.

"It's my first final for a while. It has been a tough couple of years but I've been working hard, I started in June this season, a couple of months early."

Impressive Robertson

In the second semi-final, Robertson rolled in a century and three other breaks above 50 to quell the challenge of Allen.

Allen opened a 2-0 lead with runs of 78 and 112 before Robertson found his range to reel off the next four.

The Melbourne potter made contributions of 68, 86 and 59 and, after Allen had pulled back within one, added a break of exactly 100 for a 5-3 advantage.

Allen won a scrappy ninth before Robertson sealed the result without further alarm in the 10th.

"He made two great breaks and got off to great start," said Robertson, who has won both of his previous appearances in ranking event finals.

"I was nervous but then made two breaks to level at 2-2.

"I kept playing pretty well from there. I had a 70 and an 80 to go 4-2 up and managed to hold. I fell over the line."