NEIL ROBERTSON ended up forfeiting a chance to win a whopping £175,000 prize – by forgetting what day it was.
The former world champion was set to take on Michael Holt in a 2025 World Open qualifier at Ponds Forge in Sheffield during the festive period.
PAMichael Holt was set to play with former world champ Neil Robertson in a 2025 World Open qualifier[/caption]
PABut Roberston ended up no-showing their showdown after forgetting what day it was[/caption]
Snooker fans were left stunned when a 5-0 win for Holt appeared on results pages without so much as an explanation as to what happened in the scheduled December dust-up.
But Holt, who was bedridden a few days before the scheduled match, has finally revealed what happened in the qualifier – which he almost withdrew from.
He explained on Instagram: “It’s ten to seven, I’m in the office waiting to play and Gary Wilkinson’s [tournament official] phone rang.
“He picked his phone up and looked at me and went [Holt puts his thumb up].
“Basically, Neil forgot what day it was, he got the wrong date, which is a massive stroke of luck for me which meant.
“I got a bye. So I’m going to China at the end of February.
“So yeah, that’s a massive bit of luck I had.”
Aussie cueist Robertson has yet to comment on his costly failure to make the qualifier.
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List of all-time Snooker World Champions
BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.
The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.
The first World Championships ran from 1927 – with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.
Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.
Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each.
1969 – John Spencer
1970 – Ray Reardon
1971 – John Spencer
1972 – Alex Higgins
1973 – Ray Reardon (2)
1974 – Ray Reardon (3)
1975 – Ray Reardon (4)
1976 – Ray Reardon (5)
1977 – John Spencer (2)
1978 – Ray Reardon (6)
1979 – Terry Griffiths
1980 – Cliff Thorburn
1981 – Steve Davis
1982 – Alex Higgins (2)
1983 – Steve Davis (2)
1984 – Steve Davis (3)
1985 – Dennis Taylor
1986 – Joe Johnson
1987 – Steve Davis (4)
1988 – Steve Davis (5)
1989 – Steve Davis (6)
1990 – Stephen Hendry
1991 – John Parrott
1992 – Stephen Hendry (2)
1993 – Stephen Hendry (3)
1994 – Stephen Hendry (4)
1995 – Stephen Hendry (5)
1996 – Stephen Hendry (6)
1997 – Ken Doherty
1998 – John Higgins
1999 – Stephen Hendry (7)
2000 – Mark Williams
2001 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
2002 – Peter Ebdon
2003 – Mark Williams (2)
2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (2)
2005 – Shaun Murphy
2006 – Graeme Dott
2007 – John Higgins (2)
2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (3)
2009 – John Higgins (3)
2010 – Neil Robertson
2011 – John Higgins (4)
2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (4)
2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)
2014 – Mark Selby
2015 – Stuart Bingham
2016 – Mark Selby (2)
2017 – Mark Selby (3)
2018 – Mark Williams (3)
2019 – Judd Trump
2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (6)
2021 – Mark Selby (4)
2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)
2023 – Luca Brecel
2024 – Kyren Wilson
Most World Titles (modern era)
7 – Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan
6 – Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
4 – John Higgins, Mark Selby
3 – John Spencer, Mark Williams
2 – Alex Higgins
But he’ll no doubt be kicking himself for forgetting what day it was, which happens to many a person during the festive period.
Robertson, of course, reached the semi-finals of the 2024 World Open, which he was dumped out of by Ding Junhui.
He pocketed a cool £32,500 for his efforts, which he’ll have to wait until 2026 to try improve on.