Crucible latest: Robertson to play Dott in World Championship final

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 Sunday 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.

Carter made an opening break of 64 before missing a black, leaving enough points on the table for Robertson to pinch the frame.

The man from Melbourne reached 36 before running out of position on the final red and a safety battle followed, the players exchanging points-earning snookers before Carter finally put the frame away.

There was still no great cause for concern from Robertson's point of view when Carter reduced his lead to 15-11 with a break of 71.

At 44-42 ahead in the next frame Carter got probably the fluke of the tournament to get off the mark, when after missing a red to a top corner pocket the ball travelled up the table, off baulk and side cushions before meeting the white again and bouncing into the right centre pocket.

But Robertson was soon back in the frame, and the Australian snaffled up the chance when Carter swerved past the black to hit yellow but left it. He cleared from yellow to pink, and that meant Carter had to win all six remaining frames.

Coming into the match, Carter knew he would climb a place to number two in the world rankings for next season with victory.

The Essex man, 30, had the first chance of the 28th frame and built a 50-4 lead before failing to pocket a pink.

Robertson scrapped his way back into the frame but it went Carter's way.

However that was the end of Carter's fightback, as he missed several chances to seize control of the following frame before Robertson clinched his triumph.

Eddie Charlton, who lost 31-30 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.

In the other semi-final, Graeme Dott beat Mark Selby 17-14.