Welsh Open success for Sussex potter Robertson

The Bexhill potter won two matches at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, in addition to one at the qualifiers a fortnight previously, before bowing out at the hands of world number three Judd Trump.

Having scraped past Peter Devlin 4-3 in the qualifiers, Robertson prevailed by the same score against Welsh cueman Jamie Jones in his opening match at the venue stage.

The world number 28 put together a 56 break in the decider - his second half-century of the match following an 84 in frame three - to edge out 40th-ranked Jones.

Snooker ace swapped cue for trainers.

Robertson then won the last three frames to see off Irish veteran Fergal O'Brien 4-2 with top runs of 98 and 79.

But his progress was halted by a 4-1 loss against eventual runner-up Trump, who fashioned two century breaks and a half-century. Robertson's best effort was a 63 in frame three.

Having come dangerously close to losing his place on the circuit last season, Robertson has now reached two semi-finals, a quarter-final and twice got to the last 16 this term.

Robertson toasts win over Higgins.

The 35-year-old, who won the European Masters in 2018, was back at the table in the Turkish Masters this week.

Meanwhile, St Leonards-based Mark Davis lost 4-1 to 31st-ranked Matthew Selt in his first match in Newport having beaten Alfie Burden 4-3 in the qualifiers.

Like Robertson, Davis, ranked 52, was also in Turkish Masters action this week after coming through the qualifiers last month.