Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Crucible can give us boost’
NEIL ROBERTSON hopes the rescheduled World Snooker Championship can provide inspiration to people during the coronavirus pandemic. The Aussie ace, world champion in 2010, is relishing picking up his cue again with the game’s blue-riband event set for July 31 to August 16 at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre. The 17-day tournament would originally have been happening now, but the new dates have given players a target to practise for. Robertson, 38, said: “I know sport can really inspire people and maybe this can give them that little boost they need. “We are trying to provide live entertainment for people watching at home, and maybe a lot of people that have been finding life really tough. “I’ve got a couple of friends who are doctors and they are telling me how hard it is. “There are a lot of families struggling and it is important for us all to do our part. “It’s really tough if you don’t have anything to work towards. I know a couple of guys in other sports and it is tough training every day when you don’t know what you are going to be training for. “But we are very fortunate to be able to do that. A lot of people have lost their jobs and rely heavily on the government to support them.” World No.2 Robertson has dazzled this season by winning three major titles, plus reaching another final. But the 18-time ranking event winner stressed: “We have to treat our position with the respect it deserves and do our bit for people watching at home. “Everyone’s dream is to be world champion and world No.1. I was fortunate enough to achieve both of those things within the space of a few months. “It is coming up to the 10th year since I won it – so it would be really nice to win another.”