Neil Robertson keen to ‘avoid the scrappy frames’ and follow Ronnie O’Sullivan’s example to help game

Published 11/03/2024 at 16:41 GMT

Neil Robertson has explained how watching the likes of seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins are helping him learn and improve his own game. Robertson, who returns to action in the Winners’ Group at the Championship League on Tuesday, also spoke about the "relief" of no longer having to keep up his title record that saw him win one in every season from 2006 to 2022.

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Neil Robertson is hoping to take a leaf out of Ronnie O’Sullivan’s book in a bid for title success this season.

The Australian has not managed to get past a quarter-final in a ranking tournament, and was most recently beaten 4-2 by Ricky Walden in the second round of the Welsh Open.

But 'The Thunder from Down Under' is confident that the tide will soon turn, and revealed how watching the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins is something he hopes can help his game.

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O'Sullivan most recently came out on top in the first-ever Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker, where the Rocket beat reigning world champion Luca Brecel 5-2 in the final.

“I don’t watch all the tournaments, if I think it’s a good match with Ronnie and Judd [Trump] playing or John [Higgins], [Mark] Selby, anything I think could be an interesting match I might tune in and watch a bit of it,” Robertson said on Stephen Hendry’s Cue Tips channel.

“But I won’t watch a match just for the sake of watching snooker.

“I think Ronnie and John are the two that still can be educational. Just trying to predict what they’re going to play and then see what they do play.

“From Ronnie’s perspective, how he just never plays scrappy frames, obviously that’s a big one for me. If I can avoid the scrappy frames there’s not many players who can beat me.”

The 42-year-old previously held the incredible record of winning a professional title in every year from 2006 up to 2022, but admits that the weight of expectation in keeping that going last year proved detrimental.

“The pressure of that record was more than the form itself because it was something I was really proud of,” he explained.

“Whatever record you have you want to keep going as long as possible. I think I became a bit desperate and trying to force wins rather than let it happen. Now it’s gone, it’s almost a relief.

“Since the Masters, my form has picked up massively. I’m playing much, much better. I feel really good about my game. Qualifying for the Worlds is probably something I have to face, but that’s fine.”

Robertson's next match is against Chris Wakelin in the Winners’ Group at the Championship League, which runs between March 12 and 13.

He and Mink Nutcharut will then turn their attention to the defence of the World Mixed Doubles title, which the duo won together in September 2022.

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