Robertson I'm not slow

Melbourne man Robertson - dubbed 'The Thunder from Down Under' - defeated Shaun Murphy 10-6 with a mixture of controlled aggression and a voracious appetite for piling on the points that suggests he will take some stopping when he chases a second World Championship gong in April.

It was little wonder Murphy claimed afterwards that Robertson has perhaps succeeded the world champion John Higgins as the most complete player brandishing a cue in the game.

"His all-round game is one of - if not the best - in the game. I think he has overtaken Higgins now," said Murphy. "I don't think he is slow - I think he is clever."

Robertson is one of the most attacking players in the sport yet somehow managed to be called "boring" and "slow" by two of his victims - Mark Allen and Judd Trump - during his run to the final.

It is patently wrong to describe Robertson as a grinder when one thinks back to the days of the 1980s and an era that lent credence to Cliff Thorburn, Terry Griffiths and Robertson's compatriot, the late Eddie Charlton.

"In the game of snooker, you don't get paid by the hour. I don't think I'm a slow player at all," said Robertson.

"I don't play as quickly as Judd Trump or Ronnie O'Sullivan, but I take longer to see a shot than them.

"John Parrott and Ken Doherty (former world champions) have said it is just nonsense."

He joked: "Thankfully, guys like Thorburn and Griffiths aren't in the game any more."

Robertson revealed he had patched up his differences with Trump after beating the young Bristol player 6-3 in an ungracious semi-final on Saturday in which both players were critical of each other.

Trump had said he would have beaten Robertson "easy" if he had played at his peak.

"Judd and I texted each other after the match to sort everything out. Twitter was going mad, and sometimes you journalists can make an apple look like a chocolate cake," said Robertson.

"There is a lot of emotion 30 seconds after the match. Judd is a fantastic kid. He has created a lot of interest in the sport again in the UK."

Robertson has never lost in seven appearances in major finals on tour.

"You have to have an awful lot of luck. I have beaten a lot of great players in finals, and I always fancy I can produce," he said.

Robertson was flanked by partner Mille, toddler son Alexander - who is 20 months old - the trophy and a cheque for £150,000.

He is hoping his win will prick the sporting conscience of the Australian public.

"The tough thing about Australia is that they are not interested unless you win. Mark Webber (the F1 driver) has learned that the tough way," said Robertson.

"You have to win and thankfully I've done that in the two biggest finals I've played in. This will do the world of good for the game back home."

Robertson had little time to sit back and enjoy winning the Masters. World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn insisted Robertson had to be ready for his match against Mark Davis in the less salubrious surroundings of the Championship League on Monday in Essex.

Like Murphy, he is one trinket short of claiming a career clean sweep of the game's unofficial 'triple crown' of the UK, Masters and world title.

Robertson needs the UK while Murphy will have to try again to carry off the Masters for the first time.

"Not many players have won the world and the Masters - and I want to become a multiple world champion," commented Robertson.

"Barry has grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck. A lot of players were playing exhibitions and stuff, but now we have to be ready to play most weeks.

"If you have to play snooker for a living in the current financial situation, then so be it. It is not the worst way to make a living."