Ronnie O'Sullivan tips Neil Robertson for Northern Ireland Open win - 'This is when the tournament gets exciting'
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Updated 20/10/2022 at 22:18 GMT
The Northern Ireland Open is heading towards the business end of proceedings and with big players such as Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump and John Higgins already out, there is room for someone to muscle in. Neil Robertson has never won the Northern Ireland Open, but O'Sullivan has made the Australian the favourite to scoop the Alex Higgins Trophy in Belfast.
O'Sullivan tips Robertson for Northern Ireland Open win
Ronnie O’Sullivan feels Neil Robertson is the favourite to win the Northern Ireland Open.
Big names such as Judd Trump, John Higgins and O’Sullivan crashed out earlier in the week, and Robertson is the highest-ranked player remaining in the tournament.
He is due to face Mark Selby in the quarter-finals, following his win over Li Hang on Thursday, and O’Sullivan feels the Australian is the man to beat.
“Robertson for me, he’s probably the best player in the world,” O’Sullivan said in the Eurosport studio. “Selby, we will see where he is. He is looking to come back into form, but this is a proper test the best of nine.
“Let’s see where he is with his game, he will have a proper test with Robertson.
"This is when the tournament gets exciting, one table, the crowd are at the sides as well, it feels like a proper event and that will suit the top players.
“For me, Neil Robertson is favourite.”
Robertson and Selby are in the top half of the draw, and in the bottom O’Sullivan feels Luca Brecel - who won the Championship League earlier this year - is the man to watch.
“You look in the bottom half it is really open,” O’Sullivan said. “They are all capable players, but you would have to say Luca Brecel.
“He has won a tournament already this year, looks in good form.
“He won’t be overawed by being a favourite. He is a confident person, and I don’t think that is going to hold him back.”
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The Home Nations series is back with the Northern Ireland Open and it is live and exclusive on discovery+. You can also watch Seventh Heaven, a two-part show about Ronnie O’Sullivan’s historic World Championship win last season, on demand now
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