Neil Robertson is currently facing John Higgins in the World Snooker Championship quarter-finals, a player he regards as the second greatest of all time. The two former world champions are competing at the Crucible Theatre for a spot in the semi-finals, with their match spanning three sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday. Robertson seized an early advantage, leading 5-3 after the first session, which was a lengthy affair that delayed the start of the evening session.
Robertson's All-Time Rankings
Despite his narrow lead, the Australian remains cautious, especially given his high regard for the Scot. Higgins, a four-time world champion, continues to perform at an elite level as he approaches his 51st birthday, showcasing remarkable longevity since turning professional in 1992. When asked where he places Higgins on his personal all-time list, Robertson stated that only one player surpasses him.
“Top three straight away, I think anyone would, 100 per cent,” Robertson said. “I think you’d probably have Ronnie [O’Sullivan], John and third greatest would be probably [Mark] Selby. Yeah, I’d have those three, with John at two.”
While Stephen Hendry often appears on many lists of the top three, Robertson’s opinion aligns with that of six-time world champion Steve Davis. Speaking about Selby, Davis remarked: “He’s probably the most underrated player in the game by the general public who don’t watch enough snooker to realise how talented he is. I think he’s top three standard ever. Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and Mark Selby. The actual standard. Mark Williams is in there as well. But an astonishing standard he [Selby] can produce, relentless stuff and once he’s in the zone, what a player.”
Recent Form and Match Preview
After defeating Chris Wakelin in the second round on Monday, Robertson looked ahead to the clash with Higgins, noting that he has had the upper hand in their recent encounters. Although Robertson holds a winning record against Higgins, their most recent match at the Players Championship in Telford in February ended in a 6-1 victory for Higgins.
“I’ve had the better of it recently,” Robertson told the BBC. “But it’s not going to affect John. It wouldn’t affect me if I had a bad record against someone either. It’s going to be about who can really get a stranglehold on the match and play it on their terms.”
The quarter-finals conclude on Wednesday, with Robertson and Higgins playing two sessions, in the morning and evening.
