The Australian was never really put under a lot of pressure in his opening fixture.
Neil Robertson advanced to the semi-finals of the Tour Championship with a comprehensive 10-5 victory over Jack Lisowski on Tuesday at the Celtic Manor.
Robertson won only his second match of 2021 so far thanks to a dominant display in which he always kept his opponent at arm’s length.
The world number four clinched the first frame with a break of 91 and never looked back after reeling off four on the bounce to lead 6-2 at the end of the first session.
Lisowski briefly rallied upon the resumption of play to reduce the gap to just two frames, but Robertson took the next three to move to within the brink of the last four.
A tournament-high 129 from Lisowski only delayed the inevitable as Robertson completed his success in the 15th frame.
It has been a curious few months for the Melbourne man since capturing the UK Championship title in December, and he has openly admitted his struggles with the ongoing coronavirus restrictions.
Robertson hasn’t played in every event, but his record of one win and five defeats since the UK Championship didn’t make for particularly great reading.
That said, the 39 year-old has been guilty in the past of failing to time his Crucible onslaught properly, which could be something that is on his mind this season as he attempts to finally go deep in a World Championship again.
Before that, of course, Robertson will turn his attentions to the semi-finals of the Tour Championship – a lucrative and prestigious event in its own right with a top prize worth £150,000 on offer.
Either Mark Selby or Kyren Wilson will be his next opponent with the two Englishmen set to battle on Wednesday in Wales.
Without looking at their head-to-head record, the encounter between Selby and Wilson would appear to be relatively evenly matched.
Both competitors boast similar styles with very good temperaments, strong break-building attributes, and important battling qualities.
But Selby must be regarded as the favourite not just because of his status in the game, but also on the back of a surprisingly one-sided record against Wilson.
Indeed, the latter has never beaten Selby outside of the Championship League, suffering six reverses from six meetings in other high-profile events.
Quarter-Finals Draw
Judd Trump (1) vs Barry Hawkins (8) – Thursday 25thJohn Higgins (4) 8-10 Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)
Neil Robertson (3) 10-5 Jack Lisowski (6)
Mark Selby (2) vs Kyren Wilson (7) – Wednesday 24th
Where to Watch the Tour Championship
The tournament will be available to UK and Irish viewers on ITV4, and fans around the world will also have various other options available to them, which you can find more details for by clicking here.
As has become the norm since last year, the tournament in its entirety will be staged behind closed doors.
