Old heads are keen to show the game’s new breed won’t have it all their own way
Old dog Neil Robertson is desperate to keep snooker’s new breed at bay for as long as possible.
There has been talk of a changing of the guard is the sport over the past couple of weeks.
But normal service resumed at this week’s World Grand Prix with three of the world’s coveted top four and 2015 world champion Stuart Bingham in the semi-finals.
Robertson, 39, locks horns today with sixtime world champion Ronnie O’sullivan in today’s showpiece final at Coventry’s Building Society Arena, after the Rocket saw off Bingham 6-2 in last night’s semi.
“It’s important you keep stamping your authority on the game,” stressed the world No. 4.
“The semi-finals this week were made up of four world champions, so we aren’t done yet.
“I’ve got many years ahead of me and so do many of the other top players.
“I know what I need to do to win big tournaments.
“It’s important to keep that high standard and still keep winning those big events.”
Zhao Xintong, 24, pocketed last month’s UK Championship, signalling a seismic shift in momentum to China.
Fellow Chinese potter Yan Bingtao, 21, is the reigning Masters champion meaning the country hold two of the game’s three Triple Crown titles.
Belgian Bullet Luca Brecel, 26, blew away 46-year-old John Higgins, who has lost four finals this season, to land last weekend’s Scottish Open.
But Robertson is confident he can still compete for snooker’s top titles for many years to come.
O’sullivan won his sixth world title at the age of 44 but has lost all five finals he’s played in since.
And 2010 world champion Robertson said: “It’s good to see new winners on the circuit. I think snooker has been crying out for that for a long time.
“As an overseas player I’m delighted to see these guys winning events.
“It just shows that everything China are doing with the game over there is working.”
The 21-time rankingevent winner pulled out of last week’s event due to a nasty bout of tinnitus.
But the Aussie ace is determined to end 2021 on a high.
The Thunder from Down Under won March’s Tour Championship, got married to partner Mille and pocketed last month’s English Open title.
Robertson, who is bidding for the £100,000 top prize tonight, said: “The tinnitus was awful. It was really bad. I couldn’t play because of my balance.
“It would be great to go one step further and end the calendar year on a high.”