This past Sunday, Neil Robertson beat Ding Junhui 9-4 to claim his second Grand Prix crown. Robertson has come a long since he first arrived in the UK just six years ago. Robertson barely had money in his pocket when he arrived but now he has earned the biggest pay day of his career as well as the title of the most successful player from outside the British Isles.

The win against Junhui, which gave Robertson his second Grand Prix crown and his fourth tournament ranking win, made his pass Ding and James Wattana in the all-time list of overseas players. This led Robertson to remember how far he had come since first trying to go pro eleven years ago.

Robertson commented that his first attempt to go pro was at the age of 16. He became homesick and was struggling so he returned to Australia before trying again. Robertson tried again but his debts began to increase and he was struggling yet again, but he refused to give up.

Robertson commented that he was $10,000 in debt back home and he owed people money who had funded his trips to world amateur events and such. Robertson commented: “it’s just amazing to come through all that because I haven’t really had that much financial backing. It’s just an amazing feeling from having nothing to coming through all of this.”





- 2009-10-29