After a stellar 2018/19 performance which included 3 ranking titles and 3 further finals, Neil Robertson was one of the Holy Trinity of players that dominated this past season. An incredible career so far and he seems to be back in top form, so let’s find out more about the 2010 World Champion.
The Thunder from Down Under turned professional in 1998 but despite his display of talent from a young age, he had a difficult few years in the snooker environment. He had to re-qualify for the main tour a couple times before maintaining permanent residence since 2003. Robertson formerly practiced at Willie Thorne’s snooker club in Leicester.
Robertson really started to shine in 2006. He had just made the quarter-finals of the UK and World Championship (05/06 season) then went to win 2 ranking titles later on in the season; his first being the Grand Prix (06/07). At this stage of his career, Robertson was beating players like O’Sullivan, Hendry and Davis to stamp his authority in the snooker world.
However, it was 2010 which was the year of triumph for the Aussie. The first of the Triple Crowns and probably his most notable; victory over Graeme Dott 18-13 in the World Championship to establish himself as the 3rd non-UK player to win the WSC – preceded by Cliff Thorburn and Ken Doherty.
Since then, Robertson has played the game we are all familiar with today - tremendous break-building and temperament followed by the completion of his Triple Crown collection with a Masters and UK Championship secured in 2012 and 2013 respectively. He is the only non-UK player to achieve this feat.
Robertson has won 11 ranking titles since his WSC win in 2010 which takes his tally up to 16 ranking events and counting. His other significant accomplishment came in 2014 where he reached 103 century breaks in a single season – something which hasn’t come close to being replicated since then.
Although the following years may not have seen the success one would expect from Robertson, he has now recently found the form that had brought him these success stories some years ago. Robertson is one of those players that prove to be unbeatable when he is in top form and now that flame has been rekindled this past season, he is a danger to others who may be looking to steal the spotlight. And Robertson is a huge video game fan, which is a plus in the eyes of Snooker Shorts!