Neil Robertson believes safety play has become the most important facet of snooker, with world number one Judd Trump proving that point.
The Thunder from Down Under is known for his power scoring, with only three players in history making more than his 948 centuries, but he now thinks it is the tactical side of the game that is the key to success.
The 42-year-old had a season to forget last time around, dropping out of the world’s top 16 and failing to qualify for the World Championship, but he has refocused, worked on his weaknesses and is feeling very good about his game.
Robertson will always have confidence in his scoring ability, but concentrating on his safety game is his plan now and, after a 4-1 win over Shaun Murphy at the English Open on Wednesday, he feels it is bearing fruit.
‘I’m really focussing this season on getting a lot of pride back in my safety play because I think I am a great safety player when I want to play it,’ Robertson told Eurosport.
‘Safety play is the most important thing in the game now, absolutely. It went through a phase where long-potting was the most important, and the break-building but now it’s gone…especially with all the Chinese players who are capable of playing top eight standard snooker on their day, it’s the safety.’
Judd Trump isn’t the player that springs to mind when you think of safety play, but Robertson feels it has been a big part of his remarkable success in recent times.
The Ace won five tournaments last season and has claimed two already this campaign, partly down to his brilliant scoring, but Robertson thinks the world number one has relied on his safety game to superb effect.
‘I’ve watched a lot of Judd as well because I was thinking, what is going on here?’ Robertson said. ‘You can check someone’s break chart and he’s won a match with two breaks over 50. Judd can play unbelievable snooker but the thing I noticed is that he’s getting through matches with great safety, then when the conditions allow for it, then he plays really well.
‘Judd’s done that better than anyone in the last 12 months with all the tournaments he’s winning, you can’t play well all the time, it’s the safety play. The chance creation and the chance prevention from safety that’s the key now in the game.’
Robertson’s win over Murphy will continue to rebuild his confidence and he will go in as heavy favourite against Ross Muir in their last 16 match in Brentwood on Thursday.
After downing the Magician, he said: ‘I think that’s one of my best performances in a long time.
‘In terms of the potting, the break building and the amount of practice I’ve been doing I’m there and actually better [than before the dip in form]. I’ve improved in areas of my game, I’ve fixed a couple of things.
‘When you have a season like I had last year you really need to look at everything and I found a couple of things. In a way, it wasn’t great last season, but it could be one of the best things that could happen to me,’
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