• Wuxi Classic

Robertson slams 'unpredictable' conditions

Neil Robertson is through to the semi-finals - but he's not completely happy © Getty Images

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Neil Robertson edged into the semi-finals of the Wuxi Classic before criticising the playing conditions at the opening ranking event of the season.

Defending champion Robertson beat Shaun Murphy 5-4 in China before calling for the cloth on each table to be changed after several days of rain caused high humidity in the area.

In a series of tweets following his win, the Australian world No.3 wrote: "So happy with the win on the last black to keep my title defence going [but] feel for Shaun as we were both made to look stupid by the conditions.

"Don't know any other sport where this happens. It's time for a change on the cloth we use.

"All the players have had enough of this. Last year the conditions were great as there was hot non-humid weather. But as soon as it rains [and] once the humidity gets inside, the tables are so unpredictable.

"Sometimes you get away with it but a lot of the times you don't."

Robertson cruised into a 3-1 lead before Murphy staged a comeback to lead 4-3. Robertson responded with a 95 - the highest break of the match. Murphy led the decider 65-25 before missing a red, allowing Robertson in to clear up and snatch the victory.

He will next face Barry Hawkins, who also needed nine frames to get past Marco Fu.

"I have more self-belief and I'm used to being in the later stages of tournaments," world No.5 Hawkins told WorldSnooker.com. "It would be great to win a trophy this early in the season."

In the other quarter-finals, Joe Perry beat Robin Hull 5-2 and Martin Gould edged Stephen Maguire 5-4 to ensure three Englishman will head into the last four to battle out for the £85,000 winner's cheque.

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