AMATEUR’S HOUR AGAIN
Astley sinks champ Robertson
JOHN ASTLEY gave a timely reminder to Shaun Murphy about just how good amateur players can be as he sensationally knocked out defending champion Neil Robertson at the UK Championship yesterday.
Murphy was beaten by an amateur earlier in the week – with his defeat sparking a tirade against amateurs being allowed to compete against professionals at events.
Fuming 2005 world champion Murphy declared that those not on the pro tour had “no place in the building” at York’s Barbican or at any major tournament as a ‘top-up’ player.
But unranked Astley, 32, a yo-yo player who has twice fallen off the circuit, made the Barbican his own with a stunning 6-2 victory over Aussie Robertson, the 2010 world champion.
The last-time that three-time UK winner and current world No.4 Robertson was defending this title in York, in 2016, he also went out to an amateur, the veteran Peter Lines.
World No.6 Murphy’s ‘boot them out’ rant came after his defeat by amateur Si Jiahui on Tuesday night.
Astley was well aware that beating Robertson – who had publicly agreed with Murphy’s view – was another huge win for the little guys.
“It is probably the biggest win of my career, in a massive tournament.
And maybe the stars were aligned a bit with all that has been said this week,” said Astley.
“I was having a joke about it this morning with my brother – who was down with my dad – that wouldn’t it be funny, as someone not on the tour, if I was to beat the defending champion.
“I had seen Neil’s opinion on it too, which everyone is entitled to. One thing where I really don’t agree with Shaun is about byes [instead of using amateurs as ‘top up’ players to fill vacant slots in the opening rounds of tournaments]. You should have to earn your wins. “There shouldn’t be byes in a big event, and there is talent off the tour, as myself and Si Jiahui have shown this week. Shaun said he is trying to put food on the table – but so am I.
“There was only a handful of people who thought I could win this match. I haven’t won a match in the UK since beating Ken Doherty a few years ago.
“Even if I am an amateur, I play pretty much full-time, as well as doing some coaching. Snooker is my life – I am not a naive young player.”
Robertson, 39, said: “I defended Shaun because I know where he is coming from. Ronnie O’Sullivan drew Michael White here too, and he is not ‘amateur’ at all, really. “Ronnie, me, Shaun would all rather play the world No.125 than Michael in a first round. “Maybe John was fired up by the row and what I said about it. He was getting a lot of support from friends and family in the arena.
“He is technically an amateur, but not like some 17-year-old golfer. He has spent a lot of years on tour, keeps getting on and falling off, like a semipro.”