Robertson Targets Telford Success

Newly-crowned Grand Prix champion Neil Robertson will have his eye on the trophy when he competes in the UK Championship in Telford in December.

Snooker's second biggest ranking event runs from December 5 to 13 at the International Centre. Tickets are now on sale and can be booked by calling 01952 561 700 or visiting www.worldsnooker.com/uk

Australia's Robertson won his fourth ranking title earlier this month by beating Ding Junhui 9-4 in the Grand Prix final in Glasgow. The 27-year-old won the same event three years ago but believes that his more responsible attitude to his career could help him to collect more silverware this season.

"The first time I won the Grand Prix, I celebrated for three or four weeks, and that affected me at the UK Championship as I lost in the first round," said the left-hander. "I definitely learned my lesson from that and I am a lot more mature now. I don't drink at all any more, apart from special occasions. I found out that you can go out and have just as good a time without drinking, and you have a lot more fun by doing well at tournaments. I had a few days off after getting home from Glasgow, then I was back into practice."

Robertson, who has yet to get past the quarter-finals of the UK Championship, added: "It's one of the biggest tournaments and I'd really love to win it. I tend to play my best in televised matches in front of a big crowd so I hope we will get a lot of support in Telford.
"The Grand Prix was the most enjoyable tournament I have won. I made seven centuries and the semi-final against John Higgins was the best I've ever played on television. I'll be preparing well for every event this season and hopefully I can produce more of the same."

By winning his fourth ranking title, Robertson became the most successful ever player from outside Britain and Ireland. "That's a great honour when you think of some of the overseas players there have been," he said. "I guess my record in finals (he has won all four he has contested) helps, and I have had to really dig deep in two or three of those, none of them were gifted to me. But Ding has got a lot of time to catch up, he's five years younger than me and I'm sure we will meet in more finals. With him and Liang Wenbo doing well, it's great to have an international flavour to tournaments."

The UK Championship is one of the highlights of the snooker season and has been ever-present on the calendar since 1977. Shaun Murphy will be defending the title having  edged out Marco Fu 10-9 in a thrilling final last year.
 
The likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and John Higgins will also be battling for the trophy, while Telford's own Adrian Gunnell is aiming to win through the qualifying rounds, which run from November 23 to 30 at Pontin's, Prestatyn.