Masters snooker final 2022: Neil Robertson beats Barry Hawkins

Neil Robertson won his first Masters title 10 years ago

Australia's Neil Robertson claimed the Masters title for the second time by coasting past England's Barry Hawkins 10-4 at London's Alexandra Palace.

Robertson's success comes 10 years after he won the prestigious invitational event for the first time.

He opened up a 5-3 lead in the first session and converted the advantage with little trouble in the evening, aided by numerous errors from Hawkins.

Robertson becomes the 10th player to lift the trophy more than once.

He also collects a hefty £250,000 in prize money, while runner-up Hawkins takes home £100,000.

Robertson said on BBC Two: "With the players I have had to beat, it has to be right up there. Every match has thrown up a lot of challenges.

"Coming here, when it was announced we were having the crowds back I was so excited. It was fantastic to hear the crowds cheer again."

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Robertson proves too good

Robertson further solidified his status as snooker's most successful non-British player by claiming his sixth Triple Crown event title - his two victories in this event going alongside his 2010 World Championship and three UK Championships.

The 39-year-old has been the form player this season, picking up his second trophy after the English Open in November as well as finishing runner-up to Ronnie O'Sullivan in the World Grand Prix.

Robertson gained revenge by ousting record seven-time champion O'Sullivan in the quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace and followed it up with a remarkable semi-final victory over Mark Williams on the final black, having needed two snookers in the deciding frame.

He was visibly emotional after that match, saying spectators would "probably never see" a finish like that again and urging any kids watching to "never give up".

Robertson was not fully firing in the final yet still compiled two centuries and six breaks of 50 or more to punish Hawkins.

Robertson added: "I got about 300 text messages tell me I have never seen anything like it [the semi-final] and coming in everyone was saying 'what about yesterday?'

"I think Barry was a little bit unlucky being in the second semi-final where he wins 6-5. Roles reversed, he could have won today."

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Hawkins fails to turn up

Hawkins is a consistent performer who regularly reaches the latter stages of events, but the world number 10 is becoming a major event 'nearly man'.

He reached the semi-finals of the UK Championship in York last month and this was his third loss in a Triple Crown final after defeats by O'Sullivan at the Crucible in 2013 and again - a 10-1 crushing - at this event three years later.

Hawkins seemed full of confidence when he too reached the final by winning a decider against world number two Judd Trump, but was out of sorts in the showpiece.

Although he took the opening frame of the contest, missing straightforward pots against an opponent of Robertson's calibre was always going to prove costly and just two half-centuries with a top break of 69 highlighted his struggles.

Hawkins said: "I am not too disappointed because I've had a great week - one of the best of my life. There's been an unbelievable atmosphere and I've played some unbelievable matches.

"I made too many mistakes today and you can't do that against someone like Neil because he's a wonderful player."

The story of the match

Last year's Masters took place behind closed doors in Milton Keynes because of the coronavirus pandemic and the return to Alexandra Palace was a roaring success with the crowd creating a boisterous atmosphere throughout the tournament.

Both players were given another tremendous reception in the final and although neither were at their best in the opening session, Robertson opened up a 5-3 advantage with breaks of 50, 105 and two runs of 54.

Tied at 2-2, the fifth frame was pivotal with Hawkins making 60 but fouling the green with his sleeve, leaving Robertson a free ball and allowing him to pinch it with a clearance from the final red.

Robertson found his groove in the evening session with runs of 50 and 68 extending his advantage to 8-4 and he finished it off with further breaks of 114 and 47 to clinch a dominant win.