Robertson qualifies for China Open

The Bexhill cueman, 26, won two matches in the qualifiers to reach the venue stage of a full ranking event for the second time this season and fourth time in his career.

Robertson began with a 5-3 victory over Robbie Williams, the snooker player as opposed to the pop star, in the penultimate round of the qualifiers on Friday despite losing the opening two frames.

The local man hit back by winning four in a row helped by breaks of 81 and 60, and he looked set to make it five on the bounce when he began frame seven with a 68. World number 76 Williams came back to win it on the black, though, with the help of 16 penalty points.

Robertson, currently at a career high 48th in the world rankings, put that disappointment behind him to close out the match by winning frame eight 65-41 and set up a clash with Joe Perry in the final round of the qualifiers yesterday (Saturday) morning.

This time he got off to a much better start, winning the opening frame 65-19 aided by a 41 break and the second 70-31. World number 18 Perry got himself on the scoreboard via a 78 in frame three, but he scored just 10 points thereafter.

Robertson rattled through frame four courtesy of a 66 and 72, and moved to within a frame of victory thanks to an 84 in the next. He sealed a 5-1 win - surely one of his best ever results - through a 55 in frame six.

He can now look forward to the venue stage in the far east from March 25-31. See Friday’s Bexhill Observer for the full article.