---
title: "Wakelin sinks Robertson to reach first Champion of Champions final"
url: https://sportshorts.net/story/wakelin-sinks-robertson-to-reach-first-champion-of-champions-final
published: 2026-11-14T00:03:26Z
updated: 2026-11-14T00:03:26Z
summary: "Chris Wakelin beat two-time champion Neil Robertson 6-2 in the first Champion of Champions semi-final on Friday night, taking the last three frames for the loss of nine points to reach Sunday's best-of-19 final against Shaun Murphy or Kyren Wilson."
author: "SportShorts Desk"
categories: ["Snooker"]
tags: ["Champion of Champions", "Chris Wakelin", "Kyren Wilson", "Neil Robertson", "Shaun Murphy", "Snooker"]
lang: en
---

# Wakelin sinks Robertson to reach first Champion of Champions final

*The Englishman took the last three frames for the loss of nine points to close out a 6-2 semi-final win in Leicester — and meets the winner of Saturday's Shaun Murphy–Kyren Wilson clash for the title on Sunday.*

LEICESTER — Chris Wakelin is one win from the biggest title of his career after sinking two-time champion Neil Robertson 6-2 in Friday's first Champion of Champions semi-final at the Mattioli Arena.

The 34-year-old Englishman — whitewashed on his only previous appearance at the event three years ago — closed out victory in emphatic style, taking the last three frames for the loss of just nine points and sealing it with a run of 87 in the eighth.

Robertson hit back with a century after Wakelin took a scrappy opener, and a run of 80 hauled the Australian level at 2-2 despite Wakelin stealing the third with a superb long red. But from there it was one-way traffic: Wakelin ground out the fifth, controlled the sixth, then compiled a superb 100 of his own in the seventh after Robertson went in-off at the wrong time.

A foul from the Australian opened the door in the eighth and Wakelin needed no second invitation — a closing 87 completing a 6-2 win and a first Champion of Champions final.

"I felt nervous in the last frame, the first time I've felt nervous in a match for some time," Wakelin said afterwards. "Me and Neil have had some great battles over the years, so I knew coming into today I had to play my best to win."

Wakelin, who dethroned defending champion Mark Selby to win Group One on Monday, is the first man into Sunday's best-of-19 final. His opponent will be settled on Saturday night when Shaun Murphy — yet to drop a frame all week — meets the in-form Kyren Wilson in the second semi-final at the Mattioli.

Robertson's wait for a first title since the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters in August 2025 goes on.

*Sources: [official event report](https://championofchampionssnooker.co.uk/wakelins-dream-run-continues-as-he-reaches-first-champion-of-champions-final-2026-sportsbet-io-champion-of-champions/), [The Sun live](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/41011661/champion-of-champions-snooker-2026-live-results-kyren-wilson-updates/) and [Eurosport](https://www.eurosport.de/snooker/champion-of-champions/2026/wakelin-zieht-ins-finale-ein-robertsons-durststrecke-geht-weiter_sto23355147/story.shtml). See our [day-four coverage](https://sportshorts.net/story/wilson-sweeps-past-zhao-to-book-murphy-semi-at-champion-of-champions).*