Championship League snooker 2021: 'Nervous wreck' – Jimmy Robertson hits 140 as Joe Perry and Stephen Maguire exit
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ByEurosport
Updated 02/08/2021 at 21:57 GMT
Jimmy Robertson recorded the highest break of the Championship League with a sparkling knock of 140 to reach the last 32 at the Morningside Arena in Leicester as Joe Perry, Stephen Maguire and Jimmy White all suffered early exits at the season's first ranking event. Robertson topped Group Four as world number 115 Ashley Hugill won Group 24.
Jimmy Robertson | Snooker | ESP Player Feature
Image credit: Getty Images
Jimmy Robertson recaptured the form that saw him lift the 2018 European Masters as a 140 break helped him reach the Championship League last 32 in Leicester.
Robertson won Group Four in style, starting his Monday with breaks of 61, 100 and 66 in a 3-0 victory against Sean Maddocks.
A 60 knock saw him recover from 2-0 behind against Jimmy White to earn a 2-2 draw after the six-times world finalist made 54 and 58 before a 3-1 win over former Masters finalist Joe Perry in the group decider finalised his progress.
Perry only needed a draw after two 3-0 victories against White and Maddocks respectively, but fell to a 3-1 win defeat to Robertson in a nervy encounter that was a repeat of the European Masters final three years ago that Robertson won 9-6.
Robertson opened with 140 before Perry restored parity at 1-1 with a run of 92.
“I feel a nervous wreck. It’s brilliant to get through, I am really chuffed with that," said the world number 63 Robertson, who missed a black off its spot against Perry before staggering over the line by edging the fourth frame.
On the whole, I am happy with parts how I played with, but I also missed a lot of balls today but that’s what I’d expect when I haven’t played a competitive tournament for four months, just delighted to get through.
“It’s not a bad position to be in (knowing he needed to win), I didn’t do it convincingly, but a win is a win and I am through to the next stage.
“After going through that last season, I don’t really want to go through that again. It wasn’t a nice experience. I’m so happy to come through what I ended up, coming through in the end and keeping my tour card. It might make me stronger this season, so I am hoping to get a few results and crack on this year.”
“After I won that tournament (2018 European Masters), I didn’t expect to be consistently getting to the later stages of tournaments, but I didn’t think on the other hand I’d be doing as bad as I did after that.
"Once you start losing on tour, it’s very tough and your confidence goes a little bit. But I know what it takes to win when I’m at the latter stages.”
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World number 115 Ashley Hugill was the surprise winner of Group 24 with resounding 3-0 wins over former UK champion Stephen Maguire and John Astley respectively coming after he produced a break of 80 in a 2-2 draw with Sunny Akani.
“It’s just the start to the season I was looking for. I know everyone had drawn to that point so I knew beating Stephen would get me close to winning the group," said Hugill.
“I realised last season, I was being too tentative in a lot of matches, I realised I was always trying to go under the radar and not backing myself enough. This season I am just trying to play with a lot more of authority around the table.”
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