FORMER snooker world champion Neil Robertson says he has unfinished business in Bendigo.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Robertson will headline a world-class field starting at Monday’s Australian Goldfields Open snooker tournament at the Bendigo Stadium.
The 32-year-old has come close to winning the title, but the championship crown has eluded him the past three years.
“I am looking forward to competing this year more than any other year,” Robertson said.
“I made the final last year but didn’t win it, so I feel like I have some unfinished business in Bendigo.”
Robertson said he had won almost every title there is in the sport, except the Australian Goldfields Open.
“It was a close match last year (against Marco Fu), so I am really keen to do well in Bendigo,” Robertson said.
Robertson admits it will be a difficult task to win this year’s tournament with several top-ranked players standing in his way.
He said players such as Stephen Maguire, John Higgins and Barry Hawkins would be among his biggest threats.
Robertson, who is currently competing in the Wuxi Classic in China, said his preparation for the Australian Open was on track.
“We are just coming out of our off-season. We had the world championships a while back and I lost in a close game in the semi-final to the eventual winner, so my preparation is going well,” he said.
Robertson said he relished the opportunity to compete on Australian soil.
“We travel a lot for this sport and when you compete in countries like China and England the crowds are usually against me,” he said.
“It is always good to compete in front of your friends and family and the support I got from the crowd last year was great.”
The $500,000 Australian Goldfields Open will run in Bendigo from Monday to Sunday.