Neil Robertson has shown he's back as a major snooker force as Australia's master cueman whitewashed England's Stuart Bingham 10-0 to win the World Grand Prix final in Hong Kong.
The 43-year-old Melburnian lifted his 25th ranking title, stretching back over two decades of excellence, after his resurgent form, courtesy of an equipment change, blew away his fellow ex-world champ Bingham, who missed a series of chances in the Kai Tak Arena.
It not only left Robertson to pick up a huge Stg 180,000 ($A369,000) winner's prize but also practically guaranteed his place in next month's world championships at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre.
Just a year after he failed to even make it to the showpiece event for the first time in two decades, Robertson beamed about his extraordinary transformation after a rare triumph-free 2024 campaign had doubters suggesting the career of one of the sport's finest players was on the slide.
"But I said with all the hard work I've been putting in over the last 18 months that some big results were around the corner, and it's proved to be the case," said Robertson, who now looks a real contender to regain the global crown he won way back in 2010.
"It's just been an amazing turnaround for me, starting the year ranked at about 40-something in the world, to be able to turn that around is really good," added the Aussie, who's now provisionally up to No.11..
"So, yeah, really pleased. We've still got still got a lot to fight for for the rest of the season, but I'm certainly going to enjoy this one. To be the first ranking event winner here in Hong Kong in 35 years, that's amazing."
He started brilliantly on Sunday, compiling breaks of 87, 104, 71 and 59 to dominate proceedings before the first interval of the first session.
"Then after that, I really did steal quite a few frames, I had some amazing clearances," shrugged Robertson.
"On another day, it could have easily been five-all after 10 frames."
Instead, he swept to an 8-0 lead going into the night session, and quickly wrapped up his second triumph of the season, following his English Open victory in September, with only the sport's fourth ever whitewash in a two-session ranking final.
Robertson had done the same in 2020, similarly hammering Zhou Yuelong with a 9-0 win in the final of the European Masters.
Now back to something like his best, Robertson also credited an equipment change for being behind his resurgence, after switching to using a titanium ferrule ring on his cue tip, which he said had helped reignite his passion for the game.
"As soon as I wake up I am thinking I can't wait to practice, and it's the first time I have felt that in over 20 years," he said.
