Neil Robertson knocked out of China Open in first-round upset

Dechawat Poomjaeng produced a stunning first-round upset at the China Open with a 5-4 win over world number three Neil Robertson.

Australian star Robertson has won snooker’s Triple Crown – the World and UK Championship and the Masters – and also took this title in 2013 and was runner-up last year.

But despite leading 3-1 at the interval, with breaks of 56 and 63 in frame four, he was pegged back by Poomjaeng. The popular and eccentric Thai player made breaks of 40 and 30 in the first frame back, levelled the match in a scrappy sixth frame and led for the first time after a 74 in the next.

Robertson responded with a 74 of his own and led with a 44 in the decider, but Poomjaeng responded with 48 and won the frame and match on the final black.

Home favourite and reigning champion Ding Junhui had no such trouble in Beijing, beating Scotland’s Marcus Campbell 5-1.