Ronnie O’Sullivan has told Neil Robertson he must not let external factors affect him after the Australian crashed out of the Northern Ireland Open. Robertson was not happy with the practice facilities at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast and gave a stinging appraisal of the venue, ahead of next week’s tournament at the UK Championship in York.
Englishman O’Sullivan, who himself was unable to make the final after a shock defeat to Elliot Slessor, has admitted he can understand Robertson’s point of view but has urged the Australian to keep his focus on the table. He told BBC News NI: “I get what he [Robertson] is driving at, but you cannot let it affect you. “He finds it difficult, I get that, it is what it is, the venues are not big enough to support the tour. “I don’t practise at the venues, I refuse to stand and wait, I have had enough.”
Meanwhile Mark Williams, who is 10/11 to win the tournament outright, will play Elliot Slessor in one of the Northern Ireland Open semi-finals on Saturday, while it’s an all-Chinese affair in the other match with Yan Bingtao talking on Lyu Haotian. The Northern Ireland Open has a total prize fund of £366,000, with the winner of Sunday’s final set to receive up to £70,000 plus the Alex Higgins Trophy in Belfast.
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