Robertson reaches final

Neil Robertson became Australia's first World Snooker Championship finalist for 35 years as he completed victory over Ali Carter on Saturday afternoon.

The 28-year-old from Melbourne sealed a 17-12 semi-final win over the 2008 runner-up to reach the title match, which begins on Sunday afternoon and concludes on Monday.

Robertson carried a 15-9 lead into the final session, so would have had to implode to give Carter even a sniff of victory. He showed some early nerves and lost three of the first four frames, but his lead was so substantial there was no danger of it disappearing.

Eddie Charlton, who lost to Ray Reardon in the 1975 final, was the last Australian to venture so far at the World Championship, in the year the tournament was staged at Charlton's club in Melbourne.

Now Robertson is hoping to ignite interest in snooker, and his achievement, in Australia.

"I don't think this is my best achievement. I think winning a ranking title is still better," he said.

"But in terms of a really proud moment, during a World Championship you're representing your country a little more.

"Hopefully this will get a lot of attention from back home now.

"I've been told there was a possibility of them showing the final live on television back home in Australia. I can't think of that happening before.

"I knew what a big moment it was for my country, so I had a lot of stuff to deal with. Hopefully this can go ahead and they can show it live, it would be absolutely amazing."