'A bit like the Nutty Professor' - Neil Robertson credits 'genius' ideas of dad for his talent

Updated 03/03/2022 at 18:45 GMT

Neil Robertson has won the English Open, the Players Championship and the Masters, and is bidding for a fourth title of the season at the Welsh Open in Newport this week. He is the form player of the season, and he has talked about how he honed his skills as a youngster in Australia and credits his dad.

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Neil Robertson has described his dad as a Nutty Professor who has thought up some genius ideas.

Robertson has been the standout player of the 2021/22 season, and he is chasing his fourth title of the campaign after victories at the English Open, Players Championship and Masters.

The 40-year-old honed his skills under the gaze of his dad at home in Australia, and credits his father for a game that "does not lack anything" - according to Ronnie O’Sullivan.

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“My dad is a bit like the Nutty Professor,” Robertson told Eurosport. “He will come up with all these ideas, one of which will be genius.

“Throughout the years as a junior, I had to learn to filter the good stuff.

“He said he could write a book on the grip alone. My dad has studied the game so much it is incredible.

“My technique, we have worked on that through the years. We studied [Stephen] Hendry and [Steve] Davis, Ronnie and just try and build all the best bits.”

In response, O’Sullivan added: ”He has managed to blend all the best bits: the potting, the break building, the power and then the finesse.

“Some have it all one way but lack elsewhere. Neil does not lack anything.”