Neil Robertson on Ronnie O’Sullivan praise: ‘He talks about me differently to some of the others’

Neil Robertson is happy for Ronnie O’Sullivan to label him as the favourite for the World Snooker Championship this year, enjoying the praise he gets from the Rocket, although admitting that there might be a hint of a mind game in there as well.

Robertson is in incredible form at the moment, winning the Masters, Players Championship and English Open this season and knocking in four centuries on the spin on Tuesday in his 5-0 European Masters win over Alfie Burden.

O’Sullivan has beaten Robertson in a big final this season – winning the World Grand Prix – but has since lost to him at both the Masters and Players Championship, leading him to label the Australian: ‘without a doubt Neil is the best player in the world at the moment.’

The Rocket also said of the Thunder from Down Under: ‘If he can get back to the semi-finals of the World Championship, he wins it as far as I’m concerned.’

Robertson says that might be to exert a bit of pressure on him ahead of the trip to Sheffield, but is still feels Ronnie has the ultimate respect for him as a player by the way he speaks about him.

‘Ronnie puts out his favourites a couple of months before the Worlds, he seems to do it every year to put us under the pump or something,’ Robertson told WST.

Ronnie O'Sullivan labels rival 'best player in the world at the moment, hands down'

European Masters Snooker 2022 draw, schedule, TV channel, live stream and prize money

Ng On yee reacts to historic first win on the World Snooker Tour: 'Finally!'

‘But no, he’s very genuine with what he says about me. I’ve noticed a lot over the years that he talks about me maybe differently to some of the others.

‘Maybe that’s just mutual respect there. I’ve defended him a couple of times in the media when I’ve felt