Neil Robertson won his second UK title on Sunday after a 10-5 victory over Liang Wenbo that included a superb 147.
The Australian’s family should be in for a neat Christmas period after he picked up almost £200,000 for his triumph and maximum break double.
Add to that the £100,000 Robertson earned from claiming the Champion of Champions title last month and it’s been quite a decent few weeks for the 33 year-old.
Robertson joins an elite group of players who have won the UK Championship more than once, and he is a thoroughly deserving champion.
Liang gave a better account of himself than many people had predicted and in fact the scoreline could have been a lot closer had a couple of close frames near the end gone the Chinese’s way instead.
It was always going to be difficult to overcome Robertson, though; a composed competitor who boasts the killer instinct at the business end of tournaments.
By collecting the trophy for a second time in three years, the ‘Thunder from Down Under’ moves past Jimmy White in the all-time ranking event winners’ list, and alongside Ding Junhui on 11.
That he is yet to reach his mid-thirties suggests that figure could rise considerably in the future.
Robertson isn’t just one of the best players in this era, but he is working his way into the conversation of one of the best ever in the sport.
He has still a ways to go to be added to the illustrious names such as Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan but if he continues along this fashion in the next decade he will surely be in the mix.
This represents the Melbourne man’s fourth major crown following other successes in the World Championship and the Masters, and it’ll be intriguing to see how many he can accumulate over the course of his career.
Coming up shortly is, of course, the Masters at the Alexandra Palace in London, with Robertson surely now entering as the favourite amid a high-class field.
Robertson’s gift is that he is a winner – rather than shying away in the defining moments he thrives in them.
The 147 aside, his scoring wasn’t at its imperious best during yesterday’s final but he was still able to conjure up the victory from his remaining assets.
Robertson is an all-round professional which makes him so dangerous, particularly in the more prestigious events.
To be able to compile a 147, the perfect frame of snooker, in a UK Championship final with millions watching, intensifying the pressure, is remarkable and proves his poise under the extreme circumstances.
For Liang, it marks as a second disappointment in ranking event final – six years after his maiden effort in the Shanghai Masters.
He doesn’t have anything to be ashamed about, though, and can revel in the fact that he now jumps into the top 16 and earns an invitation to play at Ally Pally for the first time in January.
But right now is all about Robertson and the question of whether he can continue his current dominance for the remainder of the campaign.
