The 2022 Snooker German Masters will open tonight in Tempodrom in Berlin, where Masters champion Neil Robertson is coming to Berlin as a regular player, and he believes that the 32-player trip to Berlin will be an important sign that the Snooker Tour is back on track.
In the 2020 German Masters final, Robertson lost 6-9 against old rival Judd Trump. In the first round of this year's German Masters, Robertson will play Against Rich Wharton in the first round.
Earlier this month, Robertson beat Barry Hawkins 10-4 in the Masters final to win his second Masters title of his career. After winning the Masters for the first time in 2012, what does Robertson, who won the Masters after a gap of ten years, think about the victory and the upcoming German Masters?
WST: Neil, the victory at the Masters at the beginning of the month, how much is this championship worth to you?
"This [the Masters win] means a lot to me. I think because I lost two previous Masters finals, I don't want to make it to the final again or end up losing. Of course, it's also great to win another 'big three' title. I won the British Championship last season and the Masters this year, which is fantastic. I want to maintain this consistent performance in big events. ”
"The most important thing is that when you have a chance, you make the opportunity work. You can't win the semi-finals without the strength to win the finals like I did before, it would feel like a waste of time .) It can be seen that Barry (Hawkins) was a little tired after the semi-final with Judd (Trump). He made a couple of key mistakes that gave me a 5-3 lead after the first quarter. I felt really good at the time, I felt like I was playing my best and taking control of the game from him. The steady play of my longstand is also an important factor in winning. ”
WST: Your semi-final against Mark Williams was a great game to remember over and over again, and in the decider you had to do two snookers to win by a score, and you did it. In a post-match interview, you said you wanted people who watched the game never to give up trying to get things done. So is it important for you to motivate others with your performance at the table?
"I think that's what I really learned as a father. You are always trying to set the best example for your children. When I talk to the media, I probably play that role as well. I know there are a lot of kids who are watching this sport. Alexander (Robertson's eldest son) friends at school always came to me and said they had watched my game. I think whenever you can inspire other people's lives, you should try to do that. You really stand out for your quality in the game, which is why Paul Hunt is so popular with the public. If you're in the spotlight and you're not going to give up in a difficult time, I think that's going to send a very positive signal to everyone who watches the game. ”
"There were also some people who didn't look much at snooker who messaged me about me and Mark Williams in the semi-finals. They said they were drawn to the situation in the decider. I think the attitude of the live audience also affected other people who watched the game through TV channels, and it was the interaction of the live audience on the game that made the game more attractive. When you turn on the TV to watch a sports game, if so many live viewers can indulge in it, it will make you have a good view of the game in front of the TV. The two semi-finals of the Masters just showed the charm of snooker, and I believe that with these two semi-finals we can get a lot of fan attention from them. Another important factor is that our races are played in a very high quality way. I think the players need to understand that. If you're ranked low and struggling with life and bonuses, I understand why you feel the need to play differently. However, an event in which only the top 16 participates is often conducted in a high-quality manner. All the races at the Masters are fast-paced, aggressive and engaging. ”
WST: You also said that you think players are only in two states when they play in front of a packed live audience, either stressful to collapse or growing under pressure. What do you think makes you handle those big scenes well?
"Really great players love to play in front of spectators. Of course, some people may feel scared. If there's a surprising misstep, then a player like me or Mark Williams can just ignore it and not be affected, but not many players can do it like we do, and they'll feel a little embarrassed. Playing in front of people is something I've always loved. There is no special method or solution to the pressure brought by the audience. All of this comes from the heart, allowing people to be able to achieve results under the greatest pressure. ”
"To be able to get the Tour up after all the crises that come with COVID-19, you have to see how great everyone at WST has done. The fans are also very willing to come out and support our game. Our fans have not decreased but have been increasing continuously, which is remarkable. We need to have some control over expectations, after all this is masters. We can't expect every game to be packed. However, as long as the big events continue to be held and in turn pull the small events in the right direction, then we play the right role on the right track, which makes the players feel really special. ”
WST: This week's German Masters will be the first foreign event to be held outside the UK since the 2020 Gibraltar Open. How important is it for you to return to a more global state of the Tour?
"Hopefully this is the kick-off ceremony for us to travel around the world again to compete." There's no better way to start a foreign event than with the German Masters. I was really excited to go to Berlin. At the Tempodrom stadium, the atmosphere there is very nice. This is a venue that every player loves to go to. I hope that the public will be able to support this event and come back with confidence. Tempodrom's entire stadium is imbued with the warm atmosphere of snooker, which is one of the best game experiences you can have as a player. ”
WST: When you played in the 2020 German Masters semi-finals, you said in an interview that you felt like Russell Crowe in Gladiator. Russell Crow himself tweeted to wish you a good result in the final, were you surprised to see his news?
"His congratulatory message on Twitter was so cool that I took a screenshot of his reply directly. Gladiator is one of my favorite movies, and it's amazing to get a blessing from him. It's funny, a lot of what you said will be filtered out of the internet, and a person so famous as him will actually see it. I think Gladiator is a good movie that I think can be ranked in the top five of film history. When people talk about good movies, Gladiator is never absent. When it comes to great movies, Gladiator and The Shawshank Redemption are the first two films I can think of. Competing in Tempodrom is really a bit like a gladiator scene. All the fans are around you, all eyes are on you, it's a really enjoyable playing environment. ”
WST: You haven't won a world championship since 2010. So will the World Championships be your main focus for the rest of the season?
"I've made a special plan for the World Championships. The day after the Masters, I started planning to make sure it was the most adequate preparation I had for the World Championships. I already have the team I think is right and give myself a chance to win the game. I'm not going to leave my game until two weeks before I do it, and this time I have to book my favorite hotel. Before that, I had everything in place. This year will be a really good opportunity for me to compete in the World Championships, and I feel like I'm sparing no effort to do that. ”