Neil Robertson revels in 'amazing turnaround' after historic whitewash of Stuart Bingham in World Grand Prix final

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Neil Robertson put on a snooker clinic as he whitewashed Stuart Bingham 10-0 to claim his second ranking title of the season at the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong. The Australian described his "amazing turnaround" in form after a difficult couple of seasons, admitting he thought he would "win one, maybe two" matches at the event. He is now eyeing Players and Tour Championship crowns.

Robertson reflects on historic World Grand Prix final whitewash over Bingham

Video credit: TNT Sports

Neil Robertson delighted in his "amazing turnaround" in form after whitewashing Stuart Bingham 10-0 in the World Grand Prix final in Hong Kong to claim the 25th ranking title of his career.

The Australian had the trophy within touching distance after a stunning opening session where he blitzed fellow former world champion Bingham to take an 8-0 lead.

Robertson capped a sensational performance when he returned to the table to finish the job and become the first male player to win two ranking finals by way of whitewash, having done so against Zhou Yuelong at the 2020 European Masters.

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The result continues a superb season for The Thunder from Down Under, who earned his second title of the season following a triumph at the English Open that ended a two-year wait for a ranking title win.

"It’s been an amazing turnaround for me," Robertson said.

"Starting the year at about No. 40-something in the world and being able to turn that around is really good. We’ve still got a lot to play for in the rest of the season, but I’m certainly going to enjoy this one."

Robertson lands historic World Grand Prix final whitewash via stunning long plant

Video credit: TNT Sports

The victory means Robertson moves above Mark Selby on the all-time winners list into seventh place, while he has also jumped from 19th to 12th in the world rankings to close in on a seeding at the season-ending World Championship.

Before then, Robertson will bid for glory at the Players Championship and Tour Championship, two events where he is a former champion but has failed to qualify for the last two years.

"The Players Champs and Tour Champs, the last time I was in them, I won them both," Robertson said.

"The way things have gone the last two years, I haven’t been in them, so I’m looking forward to trying to reclaim those trophies."

He added: "I thought with the hard work I’ve been putting in over the last 18 months that some big results were around the corner and that’s proved to be the case this season.

"This week, playing with the new titanium ferrule, I was just hoping to win one match, maybe two, so to come away winning is unbelievable."

Robertson admits 'a lot went my way'

Breaks of 87, 104, 71 and 59 got Robertson off to an emphatic start as he took a 4-0 lead into the mid-session interval.

The momentum continued when play resumed as the Australian stole frames five and six on the black and pink, before a break of 78 and a 66 clearance where he pinched the frame on the black put Robertson 8-0 up at the end of the first session.

When he returned to the table in the evening, any slim hopes of a Bingham rally ended as Robertson edged two tight frames to claim the £180,000 prize pot.

It was Robertson’s second World Grand Prix trophy after his 2020 victory, and made him the first player to win a ranking event in Hong Kong for 35 years.

"Today a lot went my way," Robertson said.

"I started off really well in the first four frames and then after that I really did steal a few frames. I had some amazing clearances. On another day it could have easily been 5-5 after 10 frames. It’s just one of those things.

'Another hammer blow' - Bingham busts on brown as Robertson goes within one of title

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"Glad to see him [Bingham] back in a final and pushing back into the top 16 again. I’m sure he’ll get there in no time."

"My record in Hong Kong is really good, I’ve won two of the three major events we’ve had out here," he added.

"To be the first ranking event winner here in 35 years, that’s amazing. The crowd support all week has been great; whenever I come to Hong Kong I always get brilliant support."

Bingham 'wants Neil in the draw' for Players Championship

It was a disappointing end to a superb week for Bingham, who knocked out Mark Selby and Judd Trump on his way to the final.

Ball-run fell short in his bid for a first ranking victory since the Gibraltar Open in 2019, but he revealed after the match that he has faced a hugely challenging week on a personal level.

"My long-term coach Joe Lazarus coach passed away this week and my Uncle Ray passed away this morning. So it hasn’t been a good week off the table. Shout out to those guys," Bingham said.

The Englishman already has his eye on gaining some revenge at the Players Championship in Telford, a tournament he qualified for through his efforts in Hong Kong this week.

Emotional Bingham opens up on difficult week after World Grand Prix final defeat

Video credit: TNT Sports

"My goal was to get to the final. If someone had said before the week, you get to the final and lose 10-0, I would have maybe gone, ‘No, let me have a frame’," Bingham said.

"My final was yesterday against Judd [Trump]. It was a big match for me to get into the Players. But hats off to Neil. He did play well."

He added: "You’ve got to take the positives. I'll be in Telford in a week or so. I’ve got that to look forward to now. I want Neil in the draw. He isn’t going to beat me 10-0 then."

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