SHEFFIELD (Agencies): Neil Robertson says he will leave “no stone unturned” in his bid to win a second World Championship after ruthlessly dispatching Chinese debutant Wu Yize 10-3 in the first round.
Holding a 6-3 lead overnight, Robertson opened up with a century and then made two sublime 146 breaks – the highest of the tournament so far – as he wrapped up victory in just over an hour on Sunday.
“It’s the best I have played here for sure,” the 2010 champion told BBC Sport.
“What let me down last year is I was probably a bit to open and naive. I made it very hard for him [Wu] and didn’t give him any easy chances through a poor shot or reckless safety. This year the mindset is perfect.”
Robertson’s failure to add to his Crucible triumph 13 years ago is a mystery within the game, with the 41-year-old Australian widely regarded as one of the circuit’s most gifted players. He will face Jak Jones or Ali Carter in the second round, acutely aware he has not even managed to get to the one-table set-up the comes with the semi-finals since 2014.
“I played absolutely fantastic. He earned all his chances and for a debut he made two tons and an 82 and he hardly did anything wrong,” added Robertson, who is now the only player to make 145, 146 and 147 breaks at the Crucible.
“My preparation coming in has been the best it’s ever been. I’ve been practicing multiple times every day because you have to be ready to play well in the morning, afternoon and evening. There is going to be no stone unturned this year.”
Ruthless Robertson
A long, straight red dispatched in trademark fashion to the bottom-right corner pocket set the tone for a dominant display by Robertson, who has also won three UK titles and the Masters twice.
When Wu narrowly failed with his own attempt to the same pocket in the 11th frame, it enabled sixth seed Robertson to dole out a heavy punishment from among the balls, as he made the third of his four centuries in the match. Wu briefly rallied in the next, a stunning three-ball plant down the left cushion a highlight of the afternoon, but then missed a pink to the middle. That allowed Robertson to take the frame with a 58 and he dropped in another long red in the final frame before exhibiting exemplary cue-ball control and his full repertoire of shots as he made his second 146 in three frames.
World Snooker C’ship 2023: Neil Robertson sweeps Wu Yize aside in first round
