Neil Robertson breaks silence on embarrassing blunder after blowing shot at £175k jackpot by getting his days mixed up
NEIL ROBERTSON has broken his silence over an embarrassing blunder that saw him miss out on a £175,000 jackpot.
The ace has been parachuted into the first round of the Masters after rival Ronnie O’Sullivan pulled out on medical grounds.
Robbo, 42, will face Scottish snooker legend John Higgins on Sunday afternoon.
But jokes “have started flying in” from pals reminding him of the time of his appearance as he has a habit of either driving to the wrong location or getting his dates mixed up.
Such a scenario happened on Saturday December 21 when he was due to face Michael Holt in a qualifier in Sheffield for the World Open but embarrassingly he did not turn up.
That mix up has cost him the chance to try and win the £175,000 tournament next month in the Chinese city of Yushan.
Robertson told SunSport: “I was in 17th reserve spot for the Masters. But only because Holt beat Jak Jones 6-5 at the UK Championship. Had he won, Jak would have been 17th, not me.
“For the World Open qualifiers, I got my dates completely messed up with Christmas. I was a day out of synch.
“It was not until Saturday night that Joe Perry sent me a message, wishing me good luck for the qualifier.
“Why has Joe done that? I’m playing tomorrow. I am playing Sunday, aren’t I?
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“I went on the World Snooker website and said, ‘Oh my God, I’m playing in like 27 minutes. I’m in Cambridge and the qualifier is in Sheffield!’
“I told officials: ‘I’m really sorry, I have got my dates completely messed up in my head.’
List of all-time Snooker World Champions
BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.
The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.
The first World Championships ran from 1927 – with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.
Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.
Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each.
- 1969 – John Spencer
- 1970 – Ray Reardon
- 1971 – John Spencer
- 1972 – Alex Higgins
- 1973 – Ray Reardon (2)
- 1974 – Ray Reardon (3)
- 1975 – Ray Reardon (4)
- 1976 – Ray Reardon (5)
- 1977 – John Spencer (2)
- 1978 – Ray Reardon (6)
- 1979 – Terry Griffiths
- 1980 – Cliff Thorburn
- 1981 – Steve Davis
- 1982 – Alex Higgins (2)
- 1983 – Steve Davis (2)
- 1984 – Steve Davis (3)
- 1985 – Dennis Taylor
- 1986 – Joe Johnson
- 1987 – Steve Davis (4)
- 1988 – Steve Davis (5)
- 1989 – Steve Davis (6)
- 1990 – Stephen Hendry
- 1991 – John Parrott
- 1992 – Stephen Hendry (2)
- 1993 – Stephen Hendry (3)
- 1994 – Stephen Hendry (4)
- 1995 – Stephen Hendry (5)
- 1996 – Stephen Hendry (6)
- 1997 – Ken Doherty
- 1998 – John Higgins
- 1999 – Stephen Hendry (7)
- 2000 – Mark Williams
- 2001 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 2002 – Peter Ebdon
- 2003 – Mark Williams (2)
- 2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (2)
- 2005 – Shaun Murphy
- 2006 – Graeme Dott
- 2007 – John Higgins (2)
- 2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (3)
- 2009 – John Higgins (3)
- 2010 – Neil Robertson
- 2011 – John Higgins (4)
- 2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (4)
- 2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)
- 2014 – Mark Selby
- 2015 – Stuart Bingham
- 2016 – Mark Selby (2)
- 2017 – Mark Selby (3)
- 2018 – Mark Williams (3)
- 2019 – Judd Trump
- 2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (6)
- 2021 – Mark Selby (4)
- 2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)
- 2023 – Luca Brecel
- 2024 – Kyren Wilson
Most World Titles (modern era)
- 7 – Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 6 – Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
- 4 – John Higgins, Mark Selby
- 3 – John Spencer, Mark Williams
- 2 – Alex Higgins
“I sent Michael Holt a text message just minutes after he found out I wasn’t coming. I said ‘Merry Christmas’ with a lot of funny emojis.
“I added: ‘Maybe it’s a sacrificial thing for the Snooker Gods and they will repay me somehow.’ He said: ‘They always do for you.’ And here we are.
“Now all of a sudden, I’m in the Masters. I think I owe him a nice case of wine!
“It’s nice to start the calendar year involved in this one. John Higgins is one of the best that has ever played snooker.
“I have played Ronnie at the Masters and Mark Williams but not John – so it will be a great occasion.”
Robertson now aims to make the most of his Masters “free hit” – especially after his costly Christmas qualifying blunder.
The Australian hopes seven-time world champion O’Sullivan, who has been struggling with his game, gets better and returns soon to the baize.
I’m delighted to be playing – I wish it was under different circumstances
Neil Robertson
But like Denmark at Euro 92 or John Daly at the 1991 US PGA Championship, The Thunder from Down Under hopes he can achieve glory despite being a last-minute sub – and the carrot is a £350,000 winners’ cheque.
Robertson, the 2012 and 2022 Masters champion, said: “I guess it’s a free hit. I haven’t had to worry about the build-up to the tournament.
“It’s pretty short notice but in some ways that can be a good thing. It’s about enjoying the experience.
“It’s a shame from the tournament point of view that Ronnie isn’t there. Whenever Ronnie isn’t involved, it’s a shame.
“Ronnie always has so much expectation in every event he plays in. There’s always more people and media when he’s playing.
“He needs to take his time. There’s no rush to get back. He has been at the top for so long. Just be patient, let him come back when he wants to play.
“He won’t play for the sake of it – he’ll only play if he feels he can compete at the highest level.
“Snooker isn’t a sport where your hamstring, back or neck tell you it’s time to retire in your 30s.
“To step in and take the spot, I’m delighted to be playing – I wish it was under different circumstances.
“I knew there was a possibility of somebody withdrawing. I was just waiting and ready anyway. Every now and then there is a withdrawal.”
Inside Ronnie's colourful career
FROM his lightning breaks to blasts at officials, Ronnie O'Sullivan has fired snooker into the spotlight.
The seven-time world champion makes almost as big an impact away from the table as on it.
O’Sullivan has three children – two daughters and a son.
And the Rocket’s on-off relationship with British actress Laila Rouass has also hit the headlines.
He has opened up on battles with his weight and addiction.
While the controversial cueist reckons he wasted NINE YEARS of his career by partying too hard.
Despite being worth £14million, O’Sullivan is renowned for his love of canal boats and snubbing flashy cars.
His rivalry with fellow star Judd Trump has been branded ‘snooker’s greatest feud’.
And Ali Carter had his nose knocked out of joint by the Rocket in their infamous ‘Snotgate’ row.
Check out all our latest Ronnie O’Sullivan articles.