On Sunday, November 7, 2021, Neil Robertson beat John Higgins in a deciding frame to become the English Open Champion for the first time.
This brought Neil on 21 ranking titles, one better than the reigning World Champion Mark Selby, and just behind Judd Trump who sits at 22.

The tournament was played in Milton Keynes, England, from November 1 to November 7, 2021. The fans were allowed to attend and turned up enthusiastically.

Here are excerpts from WST’s report on the final

Neil Robertson battled from 8-6 down to beat John Higgins 9-8 in a thrilling BetVictor English Open final in Milton Keynes.

Victory for 2010 World Champion Robertson sees him capture a 21st career ranking title, moving him ahead of Mark Selby (20) and just one behind Judd Trump (22). He’s now seventh on the all-time list.
Robertson picks up a top prize of £70,000 and the Steve Davis Trophy for tonight’s victory. Having previously won Home Nations titles at the Scottish Open in 2017 and Welsh Open in 2019, he now only needs to win the Northern Ireland Open to complete a series clean sweep.

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Robertson’s victory sees him move level with Higgins in the head-to-head at 8-8. This was only the second time that the pair have met in a ranking final. The first came at the 2013 Wuxi Classic, when Robertson defeated Higgins 10-7 in the title match.

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(Neil said) “He was someone that, as a kid, I absolutely idolised. I always dreamed of just meeting him, but to be sharing a table with him in a final is incredible,” said 39-year-old Robertson.
“I said earlier this week that I’d won the Welsh and Scottish Opens. To win the English Open and the Steve Davis Trophy leaves just one more with the Northern Ireland Open. I’ll have to focus on that one next year and win the whole set
“I watched the decider a few weeks ago at the Northern Ireland Open. On one side I was really pleased for Mark Allen to win in his home city, but also I really felt for John as I love seeing the great champions win. That is just the way it goes, he has made so many opponents absolutely devastated in his career as well.
“There will have been a lot of people in that crowd tonight that will have had it really tough over the last 18 months or so. I was so happy to see so many people cheering and really enjoying themselves. That is the real thing to take away from this. Sport is back.”

Trailing by 7-5, Neil was inspired by his young son’s words during the afternoon MSI:

Judd Trump and Luca Brecel lost in the QFs, Ding, who was playing in his first tournament proper this season, was beaten in the last 16, Ali Carter went out in the first round. Michael Holt hadn’t qualified.

All detailed results are on snooker;org