NEIL ROBERTSON aims to make the most of his Masters “free hit” – especially after his costly Christmas qualifying blunder.
Robbo, 42, has been parachuted into the first round – he faces Scottish potting legend John Higgins on Sunday afternoon – after the Rocket, 49, pulled out on medical grounds.
Getty – ContributorNeil Robertson has replaced Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Masters[/caption]
O’Sullivan will not defend his Masters title next week after pulling out on medical grounds
The Australian hopes the seven-time world champion, who has been struggling with his game, gets better and returns soon to the baize.
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, told SunSport: “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.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
“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.”
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 explained: “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.
PARobertson told SunSport that he’s got a ‘free hit’[/caption]
“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?
“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.’
“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.”
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
Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
