Robertson edges closer to Triple Crown

YORK (AFP) –

Australia’s 2010 world snooker champion Neil Robertson, pictured here in January 2012, moved a step closer to becoming only the eighth player to win the sport’s Triple Crown when he eased into the second round of the UK Championship with an impressive 6-1 win over England‘s Tom Ford on Monday.

Australia’s 2010 world snooker champion Neil Robertson moved a step closer to becoming only the eighth player to win the sport’s Triple Crown when he eased into the second round of the UK Championship with an impressive 6-1 win over England’s Tom Ford on Monday.

The 30-year-old Australian recorded four century breaks on his way to sealing a second round meeting with another English cuesman Barry Hawkins.

However, while there was much talk about him joining the previous seven players to win in their careers the world, UK and Masters titles Robertson was not looking that far ahead.

“I felt mega-confident today,” said Robertson, who is the current Masters champion.

“There are still some great players left in the tournament.

“But for me, it would be fantastic to hold the Masters and win the UK, that would be a special feeling. I have the opportunity to do that and to win all three in a short space of time would be great.”

While Robertson easily avoided a shock exit, former world champion Mark Williams of Wales became the fourth top-10 player to crash out in the first round after a 6-3 defeat to world number 32 Mark King.

Williams, the world number five, lost five of the first six frames and though he won the next two, King won a scrappy ninth frame to clinch victory.

Williams follows world number one Judd Trump, Mark Allen and Chinese ace Ding Junhui out of snooker’s second biggest tournament.

Hong Kong’s Marco Fu – who beat bitter rival Allen on Sunday – discovered who his second round opponent would be when Welshman Matthew Stevens trounced compatriot Dominic Dale 6-1.