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Neil Robertson: “This year I am trying to start much earlier and hopefully that can pay off..”

Neil Robertson has had an illustrious career in the world of professional snooker as the first and only Australian to win a ranking event.

By Abhiruchi Rout | Jul 17, 2023 | 3 Min Read

Neil Robertson has shown his interest in making a strong comeback in the upcoming 2023/24 snooker season after a below par performance in the previous season. Robertson, who is known for his extraordinary 2021/22 season where he claimed victory in four major tournaments, including The Masters, the Australian star admitted disappointment in his inability to maintain his momentum last season. His late entry to the season after an extended break, which he now acknowledges was a strategic error, didn’t provide the success he was used to.

In an interview with World Snooker, he addressed the contrast between the seasons. He said, “I had my best ever season and then in the one just gone I didn’t live up to the same standard.” He shared his regret of choosing to miss a few tournaments and take a longer break. This left him feeling as if he was constantly on the backfoot throughout the season. However, Robertson is determined to flip the narrative this year, with plans to start the season early. He was optimistic and said, “This year I am trying to start much earlier and hopefully that can pay off and I’ll hit the ground running.”

Neil Robertson spoke about the unusual turn of events and added, “There were a lot of strange results going on.” He reflected on the successful seasons he, Ronnie, and John had before and acknowledged that he needed a break before the last season, but took too much time off, resulting in missed opportunities. Ronnie O’Sullivan had some victories last season as he won the Champion of Champions and the Hong Kong Masters, but fell short of securing a ranking event. Another well-known player, John Higgins also had a challenging season.

What the practice partner of Robertson had to say

Joe Perry, Robertson’s practice partner, said against dismissing veterans of the game such as O’Sullivan, Higgins, and Mark Williams too quickly. Perry argued, “We’ve been quick in the past to write off some of the greats of the game.” He further added, “Whenever we make the mistake of thinking it is the start of the decline they bounce back and have their best ever season. I won’t be writing them off for a long time. They are greats of the game and we will probably never see the likes again over that period of longevity.”

Robertson’s Top Achievements

Neil Robertson has had an illustrious career in the world of professional snooker as the first and only Australian to win a ranking event. He accomplished snooker’s esteemed Triple Crown, comprising victories at the World Championship in 2010, the Masters in 2012 and 2022, and the UK Championship in 2013, 2015, and 2020. Robertson’s trophy cabinet includes a total of 23 ranking titles as he bagged at least one professional tournament every year from 2006 to 2022.

Robertson has registered over 850 century breaks in professional contests, including five maximum breaks. This feat places him alongside legends such as Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, and Judd Trump, as the fourth player in professional snooker history to surpass the 800-century mark.