Australian Billiards & Snooker Council

News

Robertson Sends White Down Under
19 Jan 2005

** This report is from the World Snooker website.

Neil Robertson beat Jimmy White 5-4 at the Newport Centre tonight (Tuesday) and described the result as “the best of my career”.

Robertson is one of snooker's most promising talents
The young Australian has drawn praise from all quarters of the snooker world with some exceptional performances over the past two years and further boosted his reputation as he reached the last 16 of the Welsh Open.

He now faces John Higgins or Dominic Dale with the chance to reach the quarter-finals of a ranking event for the second time. “I’d say it’s the best victory of my career, I was really pleased with the way I composed myself in the final frame,” said Melbourne’s 22-year-old Robertson.

“I got a bit carried away at one stage and played a few wild shots and I know that’s something I need to cut out. But I’m scoring very heavily. Hopefully the success of myself and Quinten Hann will inspire more young players in Australia.”

Crown favourite White has been struggling for form this season and was disappointed at another early exit. “It’s frustrating because I’m playing well one day and struggling the next,” said the Players Championship winner.

“I thought I was a bit unlucky tonight, especially in the last frame when I got a horrendous kick. But Neil is a fantastic potter, he has improved a lot since I beat him at the Masters last season.”

Robertson led 3-1 at the interval after breaks of 68 and 95. White might have made it 2-2 but missed the final pink in the fourth frame. The Londoner pulled back to 3-3, knocking in a 60 in frame six.

A run of 90 put Robertson 4-3 ahead then White levelled again with a 77. Former world under-21 champion Robertson took his opportunity brilliantly in the last frame with a decisive 73.