'Best in the world': Aussie makes snooker history with incredible moment
Neil Robertson has become just the fourth player in professional snooker history to make 700 centuries.
The Australian defending champion won 4-2 over Mark Joyce at the Welsh Open in Cardiff, starting impressively with 135 that put him in an elite group with Stephen Hendry, John Higgins and century leader Ronnie O'Sullivan (1040).
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A century in snooker occurs when the player breaking manages to stay on the table until their score reaches 100.
The win in the last-64 encounter took in-form Robertson's record in ranking play to 20 victories out of 21.
The 38-year-old won the Coral World Grand Prix in Cheltenham recently, having already this year triumphed at the European Masters in Austria and finished runner-up at the German Masters.
Five-time Welsh Open champion John Higgins beat Ken Doherty 4-1, while four-time champion O'Sullivan will face Anthony Hamilton having beaten Stuart Carrington 4-2.
Neil Robertson makes is 700th century to join Hendry,Higgins & O’Sullivan in the exclusive club magnificent performance👊👊👊👊
— Ian Mackie (@Mackie4Ian) February 12, 2020
Neil Robertson makes his 700th career century break in the opening frame of his match against Mark Joyce this evening! Great achievement and only the fourth player to achieve it.
— Adam @SnookerInfo (@SnookerInfo147) February 12, 2020
Stephen Hendry ✅
Ronnie O’Sullivan ✅
John Higgins ✅
Neil Robertson ✅@nr147 becomes only fourth player to reach 7️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ career centuries! 💯👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/BkkzX8F2qs— Live Snooker (@Livesnooker) February 12, 2020
Neil Robertson is the best snooker player in the world atm
— anna 🏴 (@pani_lovett) February 12, 2020
700!🙌🏻😃 2 of my favourite commentators in the box covering it as well @davehendon @fouldsy147 https://t.co/WbLm9Mq9QW
— Neil Robertson🌱 (@nr147) February 12, 2020
Robertson’s incredible triumph on Australia Day
Last month Robertson marked Australia Day by whitewashing China's Zhou Yuelong to win the European Masters and claim the 17th ranking title of his career.
The 37-year-old from Melbourne romped to a 9-0 win, with his victory placing him joint sixth on the all-time list of ranking title triumphs alongside Mark Selby.
“You never expect a final to be played like that,” Robertson told Eurosport.
“I played fantastically well, up there with my best-ever performance in a final, and I'm sure it won't be long before Zhou is in another ranking final.”
Robertson edged two scrappy opening frames before polished breaks of 99, 128 and 82 made it 5-0.
Zhao, who was playing in his first ranking final, was unable to stem the tide as Robertson rattled off a break of 109 - his seventh century of the week.
Robertson closed out the match straight after the mid-match interval.
The only previous whitewash in a ranking final of similar length came at the 1989 Grand Prix when Steve Davis beat Dean Reynolds 10-0.
