Robertson beats Dott to win World Championship

The pair had been forced to play out their Crucible finale against the backdrop of the frame-fixing allegations against current World Champion John Higgins.

As the match continued on Monday afternoon, Robertson led Dott 12-10 but both players struggled for fluency. When Dott knocked in a century in the 22nd frame it was the first 100-plus break of a final, dominated by thirtysomething and fortysomething breaks.

But what the match lacked in quality, it made up for in tension and drama, Dott pinching the first frame of the evening to reduce the deficit to 12-11 as this match looked set for a late, late finish.

Robertson was next in the points, with a 55 break in frame 24, breaking down when he missed an easy red to the centre pocket, but the frame was won when he returned to clear with a 51.

The two-frame deficit was becoming something of a constant in the scoreline, Dott unable to pick up back-to-back frames to bring parity. So when the 32-year-old Scotsman - who won the World Championship back in 2006 and was runner-up to Ronnie O'Sullivan in 2004 - won the next frame, Robertson came back in frame 26 with a 55 break.

The players went for their mid-session break with the 28-year-old Australian leading 14-12 - needing just four more frames to become the first overseas player since Cliff Thorburn in 1980 to lift the Crucible trophy.

Frame 27 was developing into a real tactical battle. Dott edged the scoring, but with two reds tucked up on the cushion, it was a case of who would make an error first.

Robertson triumphed to go 15-12 and was looking well set in the next frame but missed a long red, then a black to the corner to hand the frame to Dott.

The longest frame of the night followed and Robertson crawled over the line to move 16-13 ahead.

Just two frames away from the title and Robertson seemed to sense he was close, a break of 36 and good safety putting him 17-13 ahead.

Dott was now drained, and a beaten man, as Robertson ran away with the final frame, even having time to blow a kiss to his watching mum and punching the air as he staggered over the finish line.

Australia had a new world champion.

For a full report on the Crucible final, read Richard Hercock in Tuesday's Yorkshire Post newspaper.