'They are Federer, Nadal and Djokovic of snooker' – Neil Robertson hails O'Sullivan, Higgins, Williams

14.10.2022 - 11:39 eurosport.com

Neil Robertson will play his first ranking event of the season at the Northern Ireland Open on Sunday feeling blessed the sport's holy trinity are still top of the pots.

The 2010 world champion faced six-time world champion Steve Davis and seven-time Crucible winner Stephen Hendry in the death throes of their competitive career, but continues to confront Class of '92 icons Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins and Mark Williams in their prime.

Ad The Masters holder held off Williams 5-3 in the last eight of the Hong Kong Masters quarter-finals before witnessing world champion O'Sullivan win five straight frames from 4-1 behind in a 6-4 victory in an engrossing semi-final on Saturday.

SnookerExclusive: Ronnie's SPOTY claim — 'I would have won it seven times if I played golf or tennis'2 HOURS AGO O'Sullivan's rousing recovery came after Robertson rolled in three straight centuries at a teeming Hong Kong Coliseum filled by more than 7,000 fans.

tennis Sporting golf Neil Robertson Mark Williams Ronnie Osullivan John Higgins Stephen Hendry Steve Davis Marco Fu Ireland county Hall Hong Kong county Williams Hong Kong

Welcome Ad Hello and welcome to Eurosport's live coverage of the 2022 Northern Ireland Open — we'll be here with live comments from 12:45 BST. Northern Ireland OpenAllen beats Lee in late-night finish to keep title defence hopes alive10 HOURS AGO O'Sullivan reveals snooker 'not main priority' Ronnie O’Sullivan has revealed he is writing a new book and that snooker is “not the main priority” for him right now following his shock defeat to David Grace at the Northern Ireland Open.

Neil Robertson dominates John Astley to reach Northern Ireland Open last 16 for first time in snooker career

Neil Robertson cruised to a 4-1 victory against John Astley to reach the fourth round of the Northern Ireland Open for the first time in his career. Robertson has a relatively poor record in Belfast, having won the three other Home Nations tournaments, but is arguably the favourite to triumph this week following shock defeats for Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump.

Northern Ireland Open snooker 2022 LIVE – Ronnie O'Sullivan in action before Neil Robertson in afternoon

Action packed schedule Ad What a line up we have today at the Northern Ireland Open with Ronnie O'Sullivan heading up the billing in Belfast. Northern Ireland Open‘We should be finished!’ – Higgins unsure why younger players are struggling to make breakthrough18 HOURS AGO 10:00 Lyu Haotian v Mark King Elliot Slessor v Yan Bingtao Tian Pengfei v Martin Gould 13:00 Dominic Dale v Zhou Yuelong David Grace v Ronnie O'Sullivan Xiao Guodong v Hossein Vafaei 14:00 Jimmy Robertson v Mark Williams Neil Robertson v John Astley Li Hang v Jordan Brown 19:00 Michael White v Barry Hawkins Hammah Miah v Mark Selby Trump/Hill v Tom Ford 20:00 Mark Allen v Andy Lee Stephen Maguire v Kyren Wilson David Lilley v David Gilbert Referee drama with White Ronnie O’Sullivan believes the behaviour of referee Ben Williams was “uncalled for” after a spat between the official and Jimmy White. In the fourth frame of White’s second round match against Luca Brecel at the Northern Ireland Open, which he lost 4-0, Williams wrongly called which ball The Whirlwind was going for.

Ronnie O’Sullivan says referee Ben Williams' behaviour 'uncalled for' in Jimmy White spat at Northern Ireland Open

Ronnie O’Sullivan believes the behaviour of referee Ben Williams was “uncalled for” after a spat between the official and Jimmy White. In the fourth frame of White’s second round match against Luca Brecel at the Northern Ireland Open, which he lost 4-0, Williams wrongly called which ball The Whirlwind was going for. Ad Williams laughed at the situation which White wasn’t happy with, so he gesticulated at the official — seemingly waving a finger at the referee — and was given a warning for his actions.

'Reminds me of Phil Mickelson' - Ronnie O'Sullivan feels 'amazing' Mark Williams can win another world title

Mark Williams is one of the great left-handed players in sport, and Ronnie O’Sullivan has compared him to another brilliant leftie in golfing superstar Phil Mickelson. Williams is still going strong at the age of 47, having won his third world title in 2018 and continuing to produce results. Ad He won the British Open last season, reached the final of the Shoot Out and progressed to the last-four at the Masters and the World Championship.

Northern Ireland Open snooker 2022 LIVE – Neil Robertson and Mark Selby reach last 32 in Belfast

Thanks for joining us Ad We will be back at 7pm with Mark Allen continuing his title defence against Chen Zifan before Mark Williams meets Alexander Ursenbacher. Northern Ireland Open'He lacks that killer instinct' — O'Sullivan claims Robertson needs 'nastiness'3 HOURS AGO Selby 3-2 Craigie (62-15) This has been excellent from Selby. A break of 58 from the former world champion the key to victory.