Marco Fu advanced into the Championship League winners’ group for the first time last night with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Neil Robertson in the Group Four play-off final.

Robertson had been tipped by many as a potential winner in this year’s Championship League, but the Australian was comprehensively beaten by an in-form Fu at Crandon Park last night.

The 32-year-old Hong Kong player stormed to a 1-0 lead in the final with breaks of 59 and 67; and then made it 2-0 with another impressive break of 70. By this point, there only ever looked like being one winner, and Fu made sure of his place in March’s winners’ group by not conceding a single point in the third and final frame.

It was a deserved victory for Fu, who had been in blistering form over the two days. A remarkable total of six centuries – including a 144 against Ali Carter in the round-robin, before a break of 110 in his tense semi-final against Mark Williams yesterday evening – made him the clear outstanding performer in Group Four.

Fu now joins Stephen Maguire, John Higgins and 2009’s Championship League winner, Judd Trump, in the winners’ group. If he can reproduce his group form in March, Fu will have to be considered as one the favourites to win the event.

However, the Hong Kong star has an unfortunate tendency of falling at the final hurdle in tournaments. Whether this is down to nerves or other factors, the general consensus is that Fu should have more trophies to his name by this stage of his career – he’s undoubtedly capable.

And it’s been a mixed start to 2010 for Fu after his exit in the first round of the Masters to Peter Ebdon; but this Championship League win should boost his confidence.

Meanwhile, Robertson will have another chance to qualify for the winners’ group after finishing second to Fu in the play-off final. He will compete in Group Five of the Championship League and will be expected to at least reach the final again.

Williams and Ebdon will also be in Group Five, though, along with Mark Allen, who won half of his round-robin matches in Group Four.

Rob Swan