Robertson admitted not long ago that he was playing video games instead of practicing when asked to explain his poor run of form. He went on to say that some days he was playing them all day. No wonder the likes of R.O'Sullivan and J.Higgins are still competing at the highest level when someone who should be reaching 3-4 ranking event finals a year prepares for tournaments like this. And, just like S.Murphy he seems to accept defeat a bit to easily at present for my liking. No doubt he'll regain his focus at some point, but until he does I wouldn't be backing him at a shade of odds-on against Hawkins.

I wonder if robbo is a bit all over the place mentally this year. Wasn't that long ago he was talking about winning lots of titles and etching his legacy in the game. If he's talking about playing video games all day now, i'd take it that he's taken to wondering whether a more relaxed, seemingly feckless approach will relax him and work better. The answer is almost certainly no.

I recall Allen saying something to the effect recently that he only practices at most one hour a day because they're playing so many tournaments now. Another with a dopey attitude who reaps his rightful rewards by losing lots of matches he should be winning.

gj - I read one of your posts about Robertson a while back and I think you were spot on. He doesn't seem to know how to play. He's made a conscious effort to speed up, and I think he's become obsessed with break building since his 100 centuries. His all-round game was very, very, good and he made himself more tactically aware - but he is not mentally right at present and his admission regarding playing video games (bordering on obsession) was startling. He is definitely struggling to find the balance with practice, as he said prior to last year's World Championship that he had never prepared better, and had potted 300 consecutive balls without missing in practice.

Snookers a hard game as we know gobe. Same as any sport really i guess. If you are confident you are doing the right thing, preparing well, mentally in good shape, doing everything you can possibly be doing to put yourself in the best possible place and then you find it's not quite coming together where it matters, I think that can damage your confidence over a period of time. Think Murphy is in that boat a little bit too.

Sometimes i think with Robertson, he allows himself to be bullied by inferior players and too easily willingly cedes the advantage in tight frames by not being aggressive enough. He got sucked into the centuries thing, but all that proves is that, even on these easier tables, breakbuilding is merely one aspect of a fascinatingly complex game.

In other news, I see Trump is pretty much back on his pre-2015 World Championship level of form. Still not winning too many tournaments, though.

considering backing hawkins if he takes this frame or is it just better to see if it goes 2-2

If he got 2-2 he'd win i'm sure, but i'd be amazed (and delighted) if he did!

Selby is always getting drawn into much tougher matches than he should be but invariably ends up winning anyway

Got to fancy Fu at the prices.

hawkins should be at least 2-1 up instead of 3-0 down

hawkins was outmatched, missed it tho

seen trump struggle after starting a match well so many times

Yeah robbo a good call tonight. Fair to say i was a tiny bit out with my own prediction!!

With Robbo finally getting his act together and Ding about to do so I have no hesitation in puting forward my 4 cert's for today.

Murphy, Ding, Trump, and Fu look to be sound choices.

I must say Gentlemanjohn that your faith in Hawkins is not the thoughts of your usual sound mind when all the evidence of his 2o year career screams Journeyman and his wings have been clipped so many times its obvious he has flown as high as he ever will.
Perhaps that is harsh on a great player (and they all are that) but probably we are in an era of Journeymen who are without the attributes of the mind to rise above the herd for any length of time.
I have no doubt the conditions on and off the table will never produce the champions we have seen in the past.

Anyway the matches today should all have been televised separately but when does the Barrowboy get anything right?

Still,   no Davis and his Parrot to blemish proceedings but the Haggis seems intent on spewing so much gush it seems he is intent on a threesome with them.
You would think the greatest would sort him out.
Anyway enjoy and watch Ding sort out a once very great player.

SHON MOPHEE

1-0 higgins

afternoon

The tip aint bad either........

why would he change the butt tino and not the whole cue?

oh dear, i read it as CUTE BUTT....lol ffs..........dyslexic fcuk...