Neil Robertson beats Michael Holt to win Riga Masters

Neil Robertson won snooker's first ranking event of the 2016/17 season by beating Michael Holt 5-2 in the final of the Riga Masters.

World No 5 Robertson came from 2-1 down to win the last four frames of the final in the Latvian capital to get his season off to a flying start.

The 34-year-old Australian is now snooker's most successful non-British player having won 12 ranking titles, one more than China's Ding Junhui.

Nottingham's Holt, 29, was competing in the final of a full ranking event for the first time but had to settle for the €25,000 runner-up prize with Robertson collecting €50,000.

"It's an amazing feeling to win the first ranking event of the season," said Robertson. "I have done it a couple of times before and it's a good feeling because you can try to build on it for the remainder of the season. I wasn't too sure what to expect coming here, but as it went on I played really well.

"Michael is one of the most improved players on the circuit, he's worked a lot with Terry Griffiths and you can see that in his game. He's not afraid of the top players any more.

"The final was really hard work. I had to dig in deep and I potted some really good balls under pressure. I'm looking forward to the World Open in China next month and trying to claim another title."

Earlier in the semi-finals, Robertson ended the run of amateur Darren Morgan, who at the age of 50 became the oldest ranking event semi-finalist since Rex Williams in 1986.

Welshman Morgan earned a wild card to the event by winning the European Open and won five matches before losing 5-0 to Robertson.

Holt edged out Mark Williams 5-4 in a tense deciding frame after a miss on the final brown from Williams ended his chances.