Sussex snooker ace to swap cue for trainers

The Bexhill-on-Sea potter’s early season disappointment continued as he slipped to a 4-2 defeat against world No.41 Noppon Saengkham in the first round of the Scottish Open.

Robertson, the world No 52, has suffered early exits at a string of ranking events but believes pounding the pavements can breed potting success heading into the new year.

The determined 34-year-old said: “Something’s got to change. I’m going to try very hard now to start exercising again. Something needs to be a bit different at the start of the new year, so hopefully I can keep that up.

“I’m going to try to get fit again, which can only help me when I’m playing. I’m out on a run now at the minute.

“It’s just the weather – when it’s freezing you don’t feel like going out, but I’m going to try and do three or four runs a week and try and get fit again and see what happens.

“The cue’s away now. I need to refresh and restart. I’ve been practicing hard and it hasn’t been going for me. It’s not going to hurt having a bit of time off over Christmas.

“I won’t play until after Christmas now, then I’ll get the cue out before the new year and see what happens.

“It’ll be nice to have a bit of time when you don’t have to practice and can just do what you want.”

Robertson struck a fourth frame break of 124 against Saengkham but visits of 93, 55 and 51 from the Thai thwarted his hopes of progression in Milton Keynes.

The 2018 European Masters champion Robertson has failed to progress past the first round of every tournament he has entered this season, bar October’s English Open where he reached the last 32.

Robertson will next turn his attention to the resumption of the Championship League at the Marshall Arena in the early stages of the new year.

He slammed his slump in confidence and admits his ‘unforgivable’ errors against Saengkham made him feel as low as he’s ever felt.

“I had chances for it not to be a 4-2 loss, but I threw away the third frame,” he added.

“It was unforgivable at this level, but it’s purely a confidence thing at the minute because I’m not winning. That’s it, it’s as simple as that. My game’s good.

“For the first time in a while, this game that I played two days ago was the most tense and nervy I’ve been in a long while. Because I haven’t been winning, there’s no prize money, and it’s a lack of confidence.

“Once you start winning, you find ways to win when you’re not even playing well. At the minute, it’s very hard.”

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