Australia’s Neil Robertson aims to win 2011 UK Championship at York Barbican Centre
Australia’s Neil Robertson has reached the York Barbican Centre to take part in the 2011 UK Championship. The Aussie is looking forward to perform up to the mark and clinch his first UK
title. He is up against England’s Tom Ford in his first round clash.
The former World Snooker Champion enjoyed a superb season from the beginning. He clinched a couple of minor ranking tournaments including Players Tour Championship (PTC) and Premier League
Snooker (PLS). He also became the third player to win two PTC events in the same season, after Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump.
The Thunder from Down Under is now ready to play in Barbican Centre against Leicester's Tom Ford, and is hoping to reach the final to take the UK glory back home.
Speaking to the local media about his ambitions, Robertson said, “We're coming into the busy time with the UK Championship and the Masters, and I'm really looking forward to it.”
Robertson is also excited about the maximum break prizes, which has been restored this season and according to the new rules for maximum break prize, starting from £5,000, it will roll
over for every major tournament until a cueman hits a maximum 147 break.
The 29-year-old Robertson spoke, “That'll create a bit of interest. Players were disappointed (when it was taken away) because it's one of the hardest things to do. It's great to have
that back and it'll be exciting if no-one makes one for a while. The prize-money will rise and rise and you'll see more players going for the max.”
One thing that is bothering the Australian potter is the format changes made by Barry Hearn. According to the new format, the tournament will commence with best-of-11-frame first round
matches rather than best-of-17. The 17 frames rule has been the UK Championship’s norm from the very beginning of the tournament.
Robertson added about the new format, “You don’t really have to do a lot wrong if your opponent plays very well on the day.”
The 2011 UK Championship will begin from December 3 at York with the first-round match between defending champion, John Higgins, and England’s Rory McLeod.
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