Relieved Robertson makes it through at the fourth attempt - 09/02/2010

EXCLUSIVE BY MICHAEL EMONS

NEIL Robertson admitted he was a relieved man after advancing into the Winners’ Group of Championship League Snooker – at the fourth attempt.

Robertson has competed in three of the four previous groups and lost 3-0 in the Group Four final to Marco Fu at the end of January. But Robertson, third in the provisional world rankings, made amends by beating Jamie Cope 3-0 in the Group Five final.

It means Australian Robertson now advances to the Winners’ Group where the overall champion will claim a place in Matchroom Sport’s Premier League Snooker competition.

Neil Robertson has qualified at the fourth attempt

“I’m definitely relieved,” said Robertson. “I was pretty distraught to lose against Marco and I’ve never been so angry after I lost that match. You play hard for two days and then in the final against Marco he did nothing wrong and I hardly had a shot. This tournament is really cut-throat as only one out of the seven in every group has anything to celebrate by going through to the next phase so I’m relieved I won’t be coming back for the next normal group."

“I’m playing quite well but I don’t think I’ve ever played as much as I have done recently.

“It would mean a great deal to me to be in the Premier League again. Last year (where he failed to advance past the first phase) was disappointing even though I had improved on previous years.

“But I think I have a lot to offer the Premier League as I’m an attacking player that people like to watch and I've had a great season winning the Grand Prix.”

The Championship League Snooker is broadcast entirely on a number of betting websites throughout the world and is the qualifying event for the Premier League.

Seven players compete in each group, firstly over a round-robin league basis with the top four advancing to the semi-finals and winners meeting in the final.

Cope, the two losing semi-finalists – Peter Ebdon and Mark Williams – and Barry Hawkins, who finished fifth in the league, get another chance tomorrow in Group Six, where they will be joined by Stuart Bingham, Joe Swail and Mark Allen

Dave Harold and Ricky Walden finished in the bottom two places in the league table and are eliminated from the tournament.

Group Six of the Championship will be held on Wednesday, February 10 and Thursday, February 11 at the Crondon Park Golf Club in Stock, Essex.

Robertson now joins Stephen Maguire, John Higgins, Judd Trump and Marco Fu in the Winners’ Group with two spots still up for grabs.

CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE SNOOKER - GROUP FIVE, DAY TWO RESULTS
Neil Robertson 3-2 Jamie Cope, Mark Williams 3-0 Barry Hawkins, Ricky Walden 3-0 Dave Harold, Peter Ebdon 2-3 Jamie Cope, Mark Williams 3-1 Dave Harold, Neil Robertson 2-3 Barry Hawkins, Peter Ebdon 2-3 Barry Hawkins, Mark williams 3-2 Jamie Cope, Neil Robertson 3-2 Ricky Walden.
Semi-finals - Jamie Cope 3-0 Peter Ebdon, Neil Robertson 3-0 Mark Williams.
Final - Jamie Cope 0-3 Neil Robertson